Sure, it would be easy for Newtown High School's boys' lacrosse team to revel in its success against South-West Conference foes - the Nighthawks outscored their first five SWC opponents a cumulative 87-21 - but the Nighthawks are more focused on improving as they gear up for what should be their toughest conference tests later in the season.

Newtown jumped out to a 9-1 halftime lead en route to a 14-2 triumph over host Bunnell of Stratford, on April 20. Newtown Coach Scott Bulkley is constantly looking for improvement. The Hawks, after a hot start, became a little too fine with their shot attempts, said Bulkley, adding that he wants to see his players stay loose to be more productive with its possessions.

"We have to be a little more mature and execute better," Bulkley said. "Every game's a learning experience."

The coach was pleased with the play of Alek Budd getting to loss balls off the draws during the Bunnell game, and noted that the Hawks implemented some different defensive schemes that worked well.

Jacob Meyer scored four goals and added three assists, Tucker Garrity had three goals and five assists, and Layton Harrell added a trio of net-finders to go along with an assist. Elliot Gregory scored twice, Colin McCafferty notched a goal and an assist, Evan Eggleston added a goal, and Mark Hall recorded an assist.

The Nighthawks fell to 3-1 in conference play and 5-5 overall after a 12-8 loss to visiting Weston on April 25. Their losses reflect the tough competition they've faced, and the Hawks are hopeful that those contests will benefit them in the postseason and, before then, when the SWC slate toughens.

Newtown went to Mamaroneck of New York on April 22 and was beaten 6-5 in double overtime. This was the team's second one-goal nail-biting setback of the spring; NHS also fell 10-9 to Fairfield Prep in the season opener.

Eggleston had two goals and an assist, Garrity recorded a goal and an assist, Harrell and Meyer each scored twice, and McCafferty added an assist in the Mamaroneck game.

Against Weston, Garrity recorded two goals and three assists, Harrell had a pair of net-finders, Scott Bauer recorded a goal and an assist, and Eggleston, Meyer, and McCafferty all scored. Weston is 7-2 overall and 2-2 in conference play, having been beaten by Joel Barlow of Redding and New Fairfield.

The Hawks will host nonconference team Fairfield Ludlowe at Blue & Gold Stadium on Saturday, April 29, beginning at 4 pm.

Newtown will visit Joel Barlow of Redding (4-4 overall and 3-1 in SWC play) and New Fairfield (9-0, 3-0) in early May, and the Hawks have those battles circled on the schedule.

The Barlow game is Wednesday, May 3, starting at 6:30 pm. After a Saturday, May 6, clash with another challenging nonconference foe, Simsbury, the Hawks welcome New Fairfield for a Tuesday, May 9, matchup. Both of those games will take place at Blue & Gold Stadium and are scheduled for 6 pm.

"We're looking to come out on fire in those games," Newtown captain Matt Bucci said. "Practice after practice we just get after it."

The last four regular season tilts are home matchups for the Hawks. They entertain SWC rival Masuk of Monroe on Thursday, May 11, at 5 pm, and close out the slate with another challenging out-of-conference game as Glastonbury visits on Saturday, May 13, for a 6 pm start.

Then the defending SWC champion Hawks begin the conference playoffs.