A solid team effort led to a one-man offensive outburst. James Carney scored four goals and assisted on another as the third-seeded Newtown High School’s boys’ soccer team crushed visiting New Fairfield, the sixth seed, 5-2 in the South-West Conference tournament quarterfinals, at Blue & Gold Stadium, on October 30. Goalkeeper Zach Laros played both halves and made nine saves.

Just in time for Halloween, Carney tricked the opposition by netting a natural hat-trick (three goals in a row) to spark Newtown to a 3-0 lead — his first two net-finders came within 13 minutes to begin the game, and the third was scored just 23 seconds into the second half.

Carney set up Paul O’Leary for a 4-0 lead, and added another goal as the Nighthawks avenged a season-opening defeat to the Rebels and advanced to the tournament’s semifinal round (Monday, November 2, against either No. 2 Joel Barlow of Redding or No. 7 Brookfield, at neutral site Weston High, beginning at 5 pm).

The Nighthawks (12-2-2 overall and 9-2-2 in conference play during the regular slate) and made it a dozen straight games without a defeat.

“Usually you don’t get an opportunity to see the growth from a first game loss to a first round playoff game,” said Newtown Coach Brian Neumeyer, whose team fell 3-1 to the host Rebels back on September 11.

“It just shows the progress we’ve made,” Carney added.

One of the changes in the Nighthawks from the start of the season has been the their ability to get to 50-50 balls.

“It’s just an overall difference in mentality in winning balls,” said Neumeyer, whose Hawks controlled the middle of the field by getting to New Fairfield’s clearing attempts, goal kicks by either side, and passes from their defenders.

Throughout the campaign, one of the theme’s for this squad has been the collective effort that led to 13 different scorers. Rarely did one player score twice in a game; even in the team’s most lopsided games (6-1 and 4-0 blowouts) no player scored more than once. That’s what makes Carney’s barrage of goals so amazing.

“Carney did a fantastic job,” said Neumeyer, noting that his teammates gave nice through passes and crosses to set up the speedy forward.

Carney’s first goal, 7:14 into the contest, came off a scramble in the 18-yard box when he booted home a rebound. The second goal was made possible by the dribbling skills of Omar Rodriquez, who weaved his way deep into New Fairfield’s end of the field before crossing from right side. Carney was there to bang the ball in 4:59 after his first tally.

Moments into the second half, Owen Sampson got the ball to Carney, on the right side, and Carney chipped a shot over the goalkeeper and in for a 3-0 cushion.

Carney sprinted into the left corner, cut toward the middle, and passed to O’Leary who was alone high in the 18-yard box. O’Leary one-timed the ball and did nice job to keep his foot on top of the bouncing ball to keep it low for Newtown’s fourth goal, just under four minutes into the half. Shane Gattey dribbled down the right side and crossed to Carney for his fourth goal, 12:27 into the half, before the Rebels scored the last two goals of the game.

“They were great setups,” Carney said of his team's passing.

“He put himself in the right spot,” Neumeyer added.

The Nighthawks have put themselves into a great spot in the playoffs — one game away from reaching the conference title game.

In the regular season, Newtown beat Barlow twice, each time by just one goal, and also edged Brookfield by a goal.