Newtown High School’s boys’ soccer team earned a 6-0 triumph over visiting Stratford at Treadwell Park on September 13, the team’s first win of the season, to improve to 1-1. It was not all of the goals — five of them in the first half — or the shutout that were the focal points for Coach Charley Amblo and company.

Amblo was pleased that, as the Nighthawks emptied their bench with a big lead in hand, the younger, lesser-experienced players did a nice job of controlling the ball.

“They need a chance to go out there and rehearse it,” Amblo said. “I really think all the sophomores and freshmen that got to play today played very well.”

Sophomores Ryan Ruddy, Tyler Grosso, Tanner Trede, Clayton Kunzweiler, and Jack Petersen, as well as freshman Jake Gonski, all saw substantial minutes, along with juniors and seniors who might not otherwise have gotten into the game if not for a put-away effort from the starters in the opening 45 minutes.

Rilind Limani and Owen Baillargeon both scored twice, and Joe Premus and Henry Vaughan also tallied for the Nighthawks. Jalen Minter assisted two net-finders, and Limani, Will Pelisson, and Vaughan also assisted goals.

Amblo liked the way his players — starters and substitutes alike — applied what they are working on in practice.

“We’re trying to be a little bit more sophisticated and use a modified passing sequence that you see as a baseline for European play,” said Amblo, who played and coached overseas. “I want the ball to move at a high pace.”

The Nighthawks stand to be in games that will be played at a higher pace in general, with upcoming tilts against some of the South-West Conference’s best teams.

Newtown fell 1-0 at Pomperaug of Southbury on September 15. The Hawks visited Bethel on September 17 and played the Wildcats to a 2-2 tie.

Following Thursday’s scheduled clash with Masuk of Monroe, Newtown hosts New Milford in a makeup of the rained out, originally-scheduled season opener, as the teams meet at Blue & Gold Stadium at noon. Then, Joel Barlow of Redding visits Tuesday, September 25, also at Blue & Gold, beginning at 7 pm. Barlow defeated Masuk in last year’s SWC title game. Both of these squads, in addition to New Milford, are among the tougher teams in the conference.