In what stands to be the last remaining true challenge in South-West Conference play this regular season, the Newtown High School girls’ lacrosse team overcame a tough visiting Pomperaug of Southbury squad with a 10-8 victory at Blue & Gold Stadium on May 8. Newtown improved to 12-0 and Pomperaug fell to 8-6 overall.

The Nighthawks surrendered a buzzer-beating goal to end the first half, and trailed 5-4 at the break before dominating the draw and 50-50 ball battle in the second half on the way to building a 10-6 lead. The Panthers again scored as time expired, proving they are a team that will battle right to the finish but, in the end, Newtown’s strong play for a majority of the second half was the difference.

“We talked about that at halftime,” said captain Bella Gerace, who scored three goals, all on free position shots following Pomperaug violations contesting Newtown’s scoring chances, and also logged two ground ball scoops and three draw controls. “I think it took all of us working together and putting in work on both ends of the field in order to get the win tonight.”

The Nighthawks won two-thirds of the game’s draws by getting possession off a dozen of them. Allie Bradley, who took the draws, won six on her own. Summer Harrell got to the ball first for three more NHS draw victories.

“It’s good to have possession,” said Bradley, adding that the Nighthawks knew they were in for a challenge against a Pomperaug team that has been competitive this spring, including posting an overtime win against defending South-West Conference champion, and one of the conference’s best once again, New Fairfield.

Pomperaug did a good job of contesting Newtown’s shots, regularly getting just enough of a piece of the stick to cause attempts to narrowly miss.

Summer Harrell tied things at 5-5 less than three minutes into the second half, and Gerace scored less than a minute later. Bradley continued her solid work on the draw, but the Panthers made a defensive stand and scored to tie things again, with a free position shot of their own, with 19:17 to play.

Both defenses stood tall until Harrell connected for a 7-6 lead with 12:20 left. Newtown found itself a player down on an infraction but killed off the penalty and went ahead 8-6 when Brooke Bulkley converted on a low, hard shot with 8:30 left.

Another win by Bradley and the Hawks led to another Gerace free position tally and it was 9-6 with 6:59 showing on the game clock. Yet another draw win for Newtown set up Gerace on her third tally and a 10-6 lead with 5:31 to go.

Goaltender Alexa Manfredonia, the defense, and Newtown’s possession game combined to hold the Panthers off the board for much of the second half. Pomperaug did not score again until 2:08 remaining. Jules Battaglia and Bulkley both scooped three grounders. Harrell had three goals and an assist, Bulkley scored twice, Battaglia converted a free position shot, and Natalie McLean also hit the back of the net.

The Nighthawks were coming off a 17-2 win over visiting St Joseph of Trumbull on May 3 and a 16-4 triumph at Glastonbury on May 6. Against St Joes, Harrell netted six goals, two assists, eight draw controls, and two ground balls; Bulkley had four goals and three ground balls; Battaglia notched three goals and three assists; and Gerace had three goals and a pair of assists.

In the win over Glastonbury, Harrell logged six goals, one assist, five draw controls, and five grounders; Gerace had five goals, an assist, five draw controls and five ground ball scoops; Battaglia had two goals, an assist, and two grounders; and Ava Mitchell recorded two goals and a grounder. Abby Ihlefeld had an assist and three ground balls, along with two interceptions. Jen Socci and Harrell both caused a pair of turnovers.

Newtown is unbeaten this season with the following remaining regular-season matchups: Wednesday and Thursday tilts with winless Immaculate of Danbury and two-win Stratford-Bunnell; there is what stands to be a tough clash with FCIAC team Fairfield Ludlowe at Blue & Gold on Saturday, May 13, beginning at noon. The season ends with a May 15 game against one-win Notre Dame-Fairfield, back at Blue & Gold, at 6 pm.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.