By Steve Bigham

Newtown expects to see plenty of the Pomperaug boys’ soccer team this week.

First, Newtown was scheduled to host the 9-3-2 Panthers on Wednesday in its final regular season game of the season. On Saturday, the Nighthawks are also expected to face the Southbury club in the first round of the South-West Conference playoffs.

Both teams have secured the fourth and fifth seeds in the eight-team postseason tournament. Wednesday’s contest determined who would be four and who would be five.

The locals have improved their stock immensely in recent weeks, winning three straight, including a 2-0 win over Masuk on October 19 and a 4-0 victory over Kolbe Cathedral this past Saturday.

“We’re finally on track,” said a satisfied Brian Neumeyer Tuesday. “The guys are scoring goals and we’re playing well.”

Newtown, now 9-2-3, has gotten a big lift lately from sophomore Ryan Tracy, who, after going scoreless for a good chunk of the season, has scored in three straight games. With Tracy playing on all cylinders, the Nighthawks appear to be peaking at just the right time.

“We really need him to be scoring goals to be successful,” Neumeyer said.

Tracy scored the first goal in the Masuk game on a great pass from Mike Troy, flipping it by the Masuk goalie with his foot. The score came 27 minutes into the contest. Troy leads the team with six assists.

After numerous close calls where balls hit the Masuk cross bar, Newtown finally put Masuk (8-3-3) away at the 78th minute when Troy scored on an assist from Sean Wilson.

“That goal just relaxed us,” said Neumeyer, who has had to be on his toes all season with his young team. “To close out Masuk was a really good feeling.”

Sophomore Jake Rouse continues to earn the praise of his coach at the midfield.

“He won’t score a lot of goals, but he is so steady in the middle,” Neumeyer said. “He doesn’t set a foot wrong. Every play is correct.”

Newtown made quick work of Kolbe in Bridgeport on Monday, scoring all four of its goals in the first 45 minutes.

Junior Sean Cavanaugh scored his team-leading ninth goal of the season 21 minutes in on a pass from freshman Mike Bonsignore, who has been seeing more playing time with the loss of Colin Armstrong who is out for the season with a torn ACL.

Bonsignore added his second career assist nine minutes later when he fed Rob Weiss for the score at the 30-minute mark.

Newtown took a 3-0 lead at the 38th minute when Matt McFadden scored off a pass from Tracy. McFadden then returned the favor, feeding Tracy for the score five minutes into the second half.

Newtown junior goaltender Matt Pachniuk has now registered three-straight shutouts.

“Matt will always be steady. The few goals that we have given up weren’t his fault. He’s been solid,” Neumeyer said.

Despite Newtown’s much-talked about youth and inexperience, it has a chance to finish the regular season just one point behind last year’s senior-laden squad.

If Newtown beats Pomperaug on Wednesday, then Saturday’s game will be played at 6 pm under the lights at Jenner Stadium. If Newtown loses, then the game will likely be played at Pomperaug at a time to be determined.