As if missing all of last spring wasn’t enough of a hit for Newtown High School’s boys’ lacrosse team, the coronavirus continues to impact the Nighthawks’ 2021 campaign. Following a coronavirus protocol-triggered quarantine spilling over from the preseason into the start of the regular season, the Nighthawks expect to hit the ground running and have a successful spring.

After just one day of tryouts, the 32 members of the varsity and junior varsity rosters entered a 14-day quarantine as a result of two team members testing positive. Coach Scott Bulkley said both cases came about outside of lacrosse and that there have been no issues with the virus spreading on the team itself.

The Nighthawks have had only a dozen players participating in practice. The others have engaged in virtual training to prepare for a season that will come later, yet more quickly than anticipated.

Newtown’s originally scheduled opening game against Brookfield on April 10 has been postponed until April 19, and the Nighthawks are expecting to be at full strength a couple of days before what has become their opener, an April 13 visit to Immaculate of Danbury at 4 pm.

“The kids have stayed really positive, which I’m really proud of,” Bulkley said. “Losing two weeks is not ideal but we’ll figure it out.”

“We’re going to play hard and I think we’re very athletic,” the coach added.

There are players on the team who were on the field together for football and soccer in the fall, and Bulkley believes that adds a level of chemistry that should aid the Nighthawks.

“This is a really tight-knit group. They all get along well,” the coach said. “I feel good about this group.”

Captains are Jake Dandrea, who has started in goal since he was a freshman, close defender Shaine Luzietti, and close defender Michael Haddick.

Jake Bulkley is a long pole defender, and is joined in the back by Nick Sabillon. Luzietti and Bulkley have started since they were freshmen and will anchor the defense. Fisher Stites will take faceoffs. Midfielders are Tanner Trede, Ryan Ruddy, and Connor Breslin. Brandon Manka will quarterback the offense, and Colin Breslin is a key player on attack. Others to watch include Will Wallace, Austin Cameron, Mark Sokk, Colby Harrell, TJ O'Connell, and Matt Jacobs.

New Fairfield, Weston, and Joel Barlow of Redding stand to be the toughest teams — hard-working and well-coached, Bulkley said — in the way of Newtown winning a title. Newtown’s coach expects his team to be in contention to win a championship.

Newtown plays each of these schools twice, including a home matchup with New Fairfield in game two, April 15 at 7 pm, and it could be as many as three times if they meet again in the South-West Conference tournament.

“I think they’re going to be good battles,” Bulkley anticipates.