Newtown High School’s girls’ soccer team bounced back from its first loss of the season and a disappointing tie to get back into the win column on September 23. The Nighthawks scored five times in the opening half en route to a 6-0 triumph over Stratford on a midsummer-like afternoon at Treadwell Park. This was a true team effort, with players coming off the bench to log considerable minutes and help preserve the shutout.

“We played 22 players today, a fair amount,” Newtown Coach Marc Kenney said. “In terms of possession, it was crisp and clean no matter who was out there.”

Karsen Pirone did a bulk of the scoring damage, netting Newtown’s last four goals. Sydney Howard and Katie Rowan also hit the back of the net. Team play showed on the field as well as on the score sheet, with five of Newtown’s tallies set up by assists. Faith O’Hara, Hannah Daly, Riley Powers, Sophia Romano, and Rowan all had goal setups. Taking on a winless Stratford team that has been shutout in each game thus far, the Nighthawks took the foot off the gas a bit in the second half by looking to distribute the ball wide and across the field, and with selfless play and extra passes inside the 18-yard box, but continued to pressure in spots and struck the crossbar on a trio of chances.

“I thought all 22 players really did a nice job committing to keeping possession yesterday. I always harp on scoring within the scope of our offense, no matter the opponent,” Kenney said. “(Against Stratford) we did that. We were very unselfish. Beyond that, I liked our body language. Everyone really tried to approach the game in a professional manner. We always try to focus on the process. In many ways, the opponent is irrelevant. We just want to get better everyday.”

Newtown was coming off a 1-1 tie with Joel Barlow of Redding at Blue & Gold Stadium on September 21. Kaley Meisenheimer, assisted by Pirone, had the lone Newtown tally. Traditionally a competitive matchup, this is one the Nighthawks had a good chance to win, Kenney believed.

“We didn’t have the passion and enthusiasm, and I was super impressed by Barlow,” the coach said.

The Nighthawks, two days earlier, had some unfinished business to take care of in an early-campaign rematch with host Pomperaug of Southbury. The teams tied 1-1 in the September 12 season opener, but the Panthers got the best of the Nighthawks in the second meeting, winning 2-0 on September 19.

Newtown, which defeated Pomperaug in last year’s South-West Conference title game, is trying to find its identity in the early going, Kenney said.

The Hawks are scheduled to visit Bethel on Thursday, October 26, at 4 pm. Following a week off from game play, they will host Masuk of Monroe October 3, at Blue & Gold, starting at 7 pm.

“Masuk is going to be a big test for us — they are much-improved. The week off, after Bethel, is going to go a long way toward helping us find our identity and for refocusing on our fitness level. I also think we need to start having fun again. It really can’t come at a better time,” Kenney said of the break from game play.