UPDATE: NHS will play New Fairfield in the championship game at neutral site Pomperaug High in Southbury on Wednesday, May 24, at 6 pm.

Coming off a hard-fought victory in its previous matchup with Pomperaug of Southbury, the Newtown High School girls' lacrosse team made the necessary adjustments to cruise to a convincing 17-5 win when it really mattered.

The Nighthawks posted one of their more lopsided victories over the visiting Panthers at Blue & Gold Stadium on May 22 with a spot in the South-West Conference championship game on the line. The semifinal contest was no contest from the get-go as the Nighthawks built a commanding 8-1 halftime lead and never looked back.

Pomperaug was hanging on late in the opening half but a pair of Brooke Bulkley tallies in the final minute made for a comfortable lead at the break. The advantage grew to double digits early in the second half and there was running clock for about a quarter of the game.

"We spread the offense around a lot more," Newtown Coach Maura Fletcher said of her team's focus of attention in the rematch.

"We were just making it too easy for them," Fletcher said of her team's efforts in a 10-8 win in the regular season.

What's more, goaltender Alexa Manfredonia, who made seven saves, played her best game yet, and the defense was lights out, Fletcher said.

Summer Harrell led the way with seven goals and an assist, Bulkley scored three times and had a pair of assists, and Ava Mitchell scored a trio of goals. Bella Gerace netted two and had an assist, Jules Battaglia logged a goal and an assist, and Natalie McLean scored.

The Nighthawks will play New Fairfield in the championship game on Wednesday, May 24; the game will take place at neutral site Pomperaug High of Southbury at 6 pm.