Scoring multiple goals in a short time span is nothing new for the Newtown and Bethel high school girls’ soccer teams. After playing to a pair of regular-season ties, the second of which featured two goals less than a half-minute apart in the final 1:04, the Nighthawks used consecutive tallies to put away the Wildcats in their playoff matchup on November 10.

Kendyl Morgenstern broke a scoreless tie less than two minutes into the second half, and Katie Rowan hit the back of the net just 1:22 later to send the fourth-seeded Nighthawks on their way to a 3-0 South-West Conference North Division quarterfinal-round win over the No. 5 Wildcats at Blue & Gold Stadium. Good things came in threes for the Hawks: Riley Powers converted a penalty kick exactly four minutes after Rowan’s tally as Newtown made the third time the charm against its rival.

With the victory, the Hawks earned a visit to top-seeded but shorthanded Pomperaug of Southbury in Thursday’s semifinals at 5 pm. The Nighthawks tied and lost by a goal to the Panthers during the regular slate. Pomperaug did not lose a game but will be without some regular players sidelined because of coronavirus quarantine procedures. The winner will play in the Saturday, November 14, championship game (opponent, site, and time to be determined; higher seed hosts each round).

Morgenstern’s goal came off an assist from Rowan, who headed a 50-50 ball forward, springing her teammate for a one-on-one with Bethel’s goalkeeper. A low shot inside the left post got the ball rolling — and opened the scoring floodgates. Powers made a run up the right side and crossed perfectly into the 18-yard box where Rowan one-touched a hard shot into the back of the net for a 2-0 advantage with 36:55 to play. Powers capitalized on a foul called against the Bethel keeper, and a solid team effort shut down the Wildcats.

Newtown Coach Marc Kenney noted that goals can be hard to come by in a tournament setting, making the first goal a significant one. “The second one certainly took the pressure off,” said Kenney, adding that the third tally allowed the Hawks to get their substitutes into the game and rest some of the starters.

The Hawks have overcome a lot, like every team this fall, but also had to shake off some injuries — notably a season-ender in game two sustained by captain Emma Magazu — and this after going into rebuild mode following the graduation of 11 players from last season’s two-time conference champion squad. Year in and year out, the Nighthawks get into the thick of things come postseason time — even this year, with only three seniors, two active (goalkeepers Julianna Stavola and Alyssa Bailey).

“This is when we’re at our best. Somehow, some way, they’re finding their way,” Kenney said.