The Newtown-New Fairfield co-op hockey team overcame a late deficit to edge Wilton 5-4 at Ridgefield's Winter Garden Ice Rink on December 30. This was the Nighthawks' second victory over the Warriors this season; the Hawks won 5-2 when the teams met in Danbury on December 21.

In the most recent victory, the Newtown-New Fairfield squad overcame deficits of 2-0 and 4-3. Wilton led 1-0 after one period of play and added to the lead before the Nighthawks reeled off three unanswered middle-stanza goals. The tallies came in a span of just 3:39 in the final five minutes of the period. A pair of quick goals by Wilton gave the Warriors a 4-3 advantage early in the third.

Alex Schmidt scored his second of the game to tie things at four with 4:49 remaining, assisted by Ashton Albert, and Cam Gouveia netted his second of the night, unassisted, for what proved to be the game-winner with just over two minutes remaining.

In the second, Schmidt was set up by Blake Ballard and Sebastian Cilia and Gouveia had unassisted tallies.

The Hawks were coming off a 6-3 loss to Staples of Westport at Danbury Ice Arena on December 28. Gouveia was set up by Schmidt and Cilia for the first NHS-NF tally. Cilia was assisted by Schmidt and Gio Cucco, and Cilia recorded his third point of the night with the final Hawks' goal.

The Newtown-New Fairfield team hosted Suffield-Granby-Windsor Locks co-op on Wednesday (check the January 13 print edition of The Bee for coverage). The Hawks will visit E.O. Smith Tolland at the University of Connecticut in Storrs for a 4:30 puck drop on Saturday, January 7. This game will feature the Bender Classic, which has developed into an annual on-ice, between-periods, clash between police departments to benefit Special Olympics.

Newtown Police Sergeant William Chapman will be joined by Officer Matt Hayes and Officer Pete Wlasuk to take on a trio from the UConn Police Department. This event has raised $5,000 each of the last two years since its inception and the goal this winter is to raise $20,000, Chapman said.

For information and to donate, visit benderclassichockey.com.

The Hawks are scheduled to be in Danbury for three straight games; the Milford co-op visits January 11 at 5 pm, Joel Barlow-Weston-Abbott Tech heads to the Hat City on January 14 at noon, and the Shepaug-Litchfield-Thomaston-Nonnewaug squad visits January 18 at 6:30 pm.

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