Down 4-1 in the third period, Newtown High School’s hockey team rallied to tie the score to force overtime — then prevailed for a 5-4 victory over host Wilton, at Ridgefield’s Winter Garden Rink, on December 21.

Sean Ferris netted the game-winner, assisted by Scott McLean, with 4:10 remaining in the eight-minute overtime stanza.

Ferris and McLean scored second-period goals, and Domenic Cartelli knotted the score at four apiece just 59 seconds into the third period.

Freshman David Brestovansky scored his first high school goal, and added an assist in the win. McLean and Cartelli both assisted on three goals.

Newtown goaltender Kyle Murphy started between the pipes and kicked aside ten shots; Nicholas Chaloux took over partway through the second period and stopped all seven shots he faced as the defense tightened up.

“During the first period we struggled defensively and working the puck out of our zone. Midway through the game we started applying our offensive systems and created more scoring opportunities,” Newtown Coach Paul Esposito said. “The team showed resiliency and character and never quit working — good character win and start for our team.”

The Nighthawks are scheduled to visit Sheehan of Wallingford, at Choate Rosemary Hall, on December 23, beginning at 6 pm, and will have their first home game on Saturday, December 26, when Hall-Southington visits Danbury Ice Arena for a 2 pm faceoff. Newtown also has home contests on Monday, December 28, and Wednesday, December 30, when the Eastern Connecticut Eagles and Joel Barlow of Redding, respectively, visit — both at 5 pm.