The early outlook and scenario are, in many ways, somewhat of a carbon copy of last year’s. Brian Neumeyer, coach of Newtown High School’s boys’ soccer team, is hopeful that the finish is just a little better than it was last fall when the Nighthawks reached the South-West Conference championship game but lost to Brookfield.

Newtown begins play this year with a different look — in terms of player personnel and play style — than it had last year. But, one thing that remains the same is the objective of the coach and his team members: To be one of the top four teams in the conference, thus qualifying for the SWC tournament, and contend for a championship.

Last year, the Nighthawks — who had lost 11 players, including six starters, to graduation from the 2012 lineup — changed up their style of play, and implemented a more abstract and less structured offensive strategy to reflect the skills of the players.

This time around, Neumeyer said, his team — which again lost 11 seniors, most of whom saw regular playing time a year ago — will tap its dribbling prowess. Neumeyer says a boost in technical play ability means a dribble-penetration approach will be taken as Newtown strives to generate results on offense this fall.

Newtown went 11-3-2 a season ago, before embarking on the postseason. In the Class LL state tournament, the Nighthawks earned the No. 7 seed and defeated No. 26 New Britain in the first round before losing a 1-0 nail-biter to No. 10 Staples of Westport in the second round.

Similarly to what Marc Kenney, coach of the NHS girls’ squad, has noticed, Neumeyer says boys’ teams throughout the SWC are getting more fit in the offseason.

“I think a lot of teams in the conference will work on fitness to try to even the playing field,” Neumeyer said. “We’re hoping the technical ability will tip the scale in Newtown’s favor.”

The Nighthawks will be led by senior captains Clay Gattey (midfielder/forward), Blake Jarvis (midfielder/forward), and Genti Lumani (midfielder).

“We’re hoping that the captains will help invigorate us,” said Neumeyer, adding that junior defenders Forest Weatherby and James Cochrane will have to step up in the back to help keep the opposing offenses at bay.

“They have to have big years, defensively, for us,” Neumeyer said. “From there, it’s really going to have to be a group effort in terms of how we get this thing done.”

As the preseason concluded this past week, the goalkeeping position, vacated by graduate Elijah Klorczyk, remained up for grabs.

Somebody among the 83 who came out to play soccer at NHS this fall — the most ever for the program, Neumeyer notes — will try to keep opposing shots out of the net as Newtown tangles with tough SWC foes, including Bethel and Joel Barlow of Redding.

The season was slated to begin with a home game against Bunnell of Stratford on Wednesday, September 10. Following a Tuesday, September, 16 visit to Bethel, the Nighthawks return home for a September 18 visit from New Fairfield to Treadwell Park (3:45 pm). The Hawks have a rematch with Bethel, at Treadwell, set for 3:45 pm on September 26. Games against Barlow are set for October 8 (Blue & Gold Stadium at 7 pm) and October 22 (the regular-season finale, in Redding at 3:45 pm).

“We’ve got a lot of new faces, a different style of play, a new goalkeeper — a lot of unknown variables,” said Neumeyer, who lost a bulk of his starting lineup, including a trio of captains, Matt Mossbarger, Wes Morlock, and Logan Puleri, among his graduates last year.

“I’m excited — everything’s new,” the coach said.