Members of Newtown High School’s boys’ soccer team head into the playoffs feeling good about things. The Nighthawks, after all, are riding a four-game winning streak, and closed out the regular slate with arguably their best performance of the fall considering their play and the competition — a 1-0 win over visiting Masuk of Monroe under the Blue & Gold Stadium lights on October 23.

The Nighthawks carry an overall record of 10-4-2 into the postseason, having lost to South-West Conference foes Brookfield, New Fairfield, and Bethel. The Nighthawks dropped a tough Masuk squad to 9-5-2, doing so in convincing fashion considering the game play that unfolded.

“We thoroughly outplayed them — 50-50 balls we were all over them,” said Newtown Coach Ryan Lyddy, noting that the win gives his players a boost going into the tournaments. “They’ve [the Masuk Panthers] beaten a lot of good teams in the league so it gives them a lot of confidence.”

A first-half goal by Connor Muir stood up thanks to solid play in the back, middle of the field, and up front as the Hawks controlled the play despite not adding to its lead.

Goalkeeper Yarema Stasyshyn was not tested often but came up big in the second half with a dive to his left to corral the ball on Masuk direct free kick from outside the 18 yard box, right side. Newtown’s keeper also sparked a few chances by the offense with his big boots down the field.

Defensive play by Kyle Ruddy, Brendan McAnaspie, Gabe Petertonjes, Elias Brady, Ryan Payne, and Johnny Celli kept the Panthers from mounting much of an offensive attack throughout the night.

Brady had a nice denial during a late second-half sequence when challenged in a one-on-one counterattack near mid field.

Up front and around the midfield, crisp ball movement by the likes of Brady Lavelle, McAnaspie, Curtis Verdi, Muir, Luke Kellerman, Brady, Manny Adomako, and Gjin Abazi generated numerous chances.

Something Lyddy likes as much as his team’s performances of late is the overall health of the squad.

“We’re healthy. A lot of teams now are not — they’re banged up, they’re nicked up,” Newtown’s coach said.

The Nighthawks entered into the game with Masuk coming off a 4-1 win at New Milford on October 19. Muir, Abazi, Verdi, and Ruddy — on a penalty kick — accounted for the scoring in that one.

Newtown previously beat Notre Dame-Fairfield and Stratford and looks to keep its winning ways rolling when it matters most.

“It feels good,” Ruddy said of carrying a win streak into the playoffs. “I feel pretty confident that we can go far in states and we can win it all in the SWC.”

Newtown earned the No. 3 seed is scheduled to host No. 6 Pomperaug of Southbury in the SWC tourney quarterfinals at Blue & Gold, Saturday, October 28, at 3 pm. The Hawks and Pomperaug Panthers played to a 2-2 tie in Southbury back on September 21. Pomperaug defeated NHS 1-0 in last year’s conference title game. A year ago, Newtown was the top seed and Pomperaug pulled off the upset as the No. 6 seed in the bracket.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.