Goals came early and often for Newtown High School’s field hockey team in a 6-1 triumph over visiting South-West Conference foe Masuk of Monroe under the lights at Blue & Gold Stadium on September 16. The Nighthawks scored three times in the opening 15-minute quarter, led 4-0 at halftime, and rolled to victory. This was the team’s second win in a row following a 2-0 blanking of Joel Barlow of Redding, at Treadwell Park, on September 11.

Against Barlow, Lily Ammerman was assisted by Francesca Glazer and Rachael Albrecht, and Mo Murphy was set up by Albrecht and Ellenoire Schoen. Kayla Locke recorded a defensive save by preventing a goal, helping the Nighthawks earn their first victory of the campaign.

“We played Newtown field hockey consistently for the first time this year,” said Coach Megan Goyda, whose Hawks were coming off two defeats to start the campaign.

Newtown had its biggest scoring outburst of the early season when Masuk came to town. Albrecht and Schoen both scored twice and Abby Ihlefeld and Glazer each added a cage-finder. Murphy had a hat-trick’s worth of assists by setting up a trio of goals, and Schoen had two helpers for a big night contributing on four of the Nighthawk tallies.

The Hawks pressured Masuk and created 15 penalty corner opportunities, capitalizing on corners for each of their first-half goals. Murphy sent the ball in on each of the corners and Newtown took advantage of those opportunities in close.

“We finished in the circle — nothing fancy; we just collected and shot,” Goyda said. “The goal is to score, not to make it look fancy.”

Additionally, the Hawks did a nice job spacing on the field and players moved well with the ball, and passed nicely. Defender Emily O’Neil had an impressive run from deep in Newtown’s end of the field all the way to the circle near the Masuk goal.

All three of Newtown’s goalies got into the game with Riley Alesevich, Riley Ragan, and Kaylee Awrachow seeing time in net and contributing to the win.

NHS visited Trumbull on September 17 and won again, 5-2 over their counterparts from the FCIAC. Schoen netted a hat-trick and Albrecht scored twice. Ammerman had two assists and Murphy and Abby Ihlefeld also set up a tally. O’Neil recorded a defensive save.

“We collectively played so well. It was a pretty, clean game of field hockey — the best game we’ve played in a really long time. I’m really proud of what they did,” Goyda said. “Emily O’Neil had a great day transitioning the ball up field. Rachael Albrecht and Lily Ammerman had fantastic days using their speed. Ellenoire really made a statement with her presence. Mo, Abby, and Reese [Lischuk] controlled the tempo in the mid field.”

The Hawks, following a visit to nonconference opponent Branford Saturday, September 21, at 11 am, return home to face SWC rival New Milford Monday, September 23, at 5:30.

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