Newtown High School's boys' soccer team defeated visiting Bethel 4-2 in the team's Senior Night, at Blue & Gold Stadium, on October 25. The Nighthawks finish the regular season with an overall record of 8-3-4.

The Nighthawks built a 3-0 halftime lead and went ahead 4-0 early in the second half before hanging on. Adam Farley assisted Thomas Shkreli, and Elliott Bennett and James Barden scored unassisted net-finders in the opening half. Jack Oltran's unassisted tally early in the second half capped the scoring.

With the win, the Nighthawks carry a six-game unbeaten streak into the South-West Conference tournament, which gets underway with a quarterfinal-round visit to Notre Dame-Fairfield on Friday, October 28, beginning at 3:30 pm.

The Hawks certainly have momentum on their side as they embark on a possible championship run.

"We're in a spot where we've ripped off a couple of wins here," said Newtown Coach Brian Neumeyer, adding that his team has gotten mostly-healthy after suffering from the injury bug for much of the campaign. "We're right there."

Newtown lost 2-1 to Notre Dame in the season opener but the Hawks also played Bethel to a scoreless tie in the second game of the slate, so Neumeyer and company like their chances considering how far they've come since beginning the season winless in four straight (including a pair of ties).

Seeded sixth in the tourney, the Hawks are on-paper underdogs as they gear up for third-seeded Notre Dame, but they're optimistic given the recent success.

"We're very excited - we've been on a winning streak," said Newtown captain and defender Mike Meyer, noting that the Nighthawks have been piling up goals and preventing opponents from scoring of late.

The Nighthawks, during the last six games, have outscored teams 19-2. They held five straight opponents scoreless before Bethel notched a couple of late goals - marking the first time since the Notre Dame game that a team has tallied more than once in a contest against the Hawks.

"We're excited to get revenge and beat them," Meyer said of the rematch with Notre Dame.

But it doesn't stand to be easy; Notre Dame has lost just twice this fall.

"They have a good offensive group so we're going to have to make sure we're solid defensively, and keep on working off the counter," said Neumeyer, referring to the Nighthawks generating offensive chances of their own off counter-attacks.

In addition to being on a roll, something that bodes well for the Hawks, potentially, is how things unfolded a season ago. Newtown lost its season opener to New Fairfield then beat the Rebels in a rematch in the SWC tourney's first round, after reeling off a long winning streak to close out the regular campaign.

"We're kind of liking this," Neumeyer said of his team's position heading into the SWC tourney this year.