WATERTOWN — The Newtown-New-Fairfield co-op hockey team visited Watertown-Pomperaug at the Taft School Mays Rink on January 21 and fell 4-1. The Nighthawks played an aggressive first period only conceding a goal to Watertown-Pomperaug’s Jackson Hitchcock. As the Hawks came back on the ice after the first intermission, there was a palpable hunger for a goal.

They were quickly rewarded when Andrew Sanchez assisted Alex Schmidt to score the first goal of the second period within the first two minutes, after which, the Hawks played with renewed aggression and were on top of Watertown-Pomperaug for nearly the whole period. Newtown-New Fairfield fell behind 2-1 after two periods.

Although Watertown-Pomperaug pulled away for the win, it was a hard-fought game and Christopher Liguori, the goalie for the Nighthawks who faced 54 shots, did a great job of defending the net.

“Honestly, I think we battled really hard. I mean we knew coming into this we were the underdog. I’m really proud of the guys, we all battled ‘til the end. I can’t really complain that there wasn’t a lack of effort.” Liguori said.

During the last minutes of the third period, Liguori was knocked down by the opposing team, leading to a delay in the game and the trainer being escorted onto the ice by the Hawks. After the trainer left the ice, Liguori got up and the entire Nighthawk team continued to play with the same aggression and hunger as the rest of the game.

“It frustrated me a little bit (getting knocked onto the ice), definitely. I had to start aiding my glove hand but … the guys stepped up in front of me and kinda kept the shots to a minimum after that,” Liguori stated, referring to the hit to his hand and shoulder.

Nighthawk Head Coach Paul Esposito hopes to improve many aspects of the way the Hawks play, and saw some progress coming off a 2-1 overtime loss to the Shepaug co-op at Danbury Ice Arena on January 18.

“The one improvement I saw was they were a little more gritty, playing together, a little more tenacious. Defense was a little bit better,” Esposito said.

In the Shepaug game, Newtown-New Fairfield trailed 1-0 and called time-out late in the third period. Just over a half-minute after the time-out, the Hawks tied the game, with just under three minutes remaining. Gio Cucco was assisted by Cam Gouveia and Ashton Albert. Esposito said after this game that he wanted to see improved play in the passing game and in positional play.

“Just game by game, making small improvements, one of the models we talk about is it ebbs and flows, you’re gonna have good games, you’re gonna have bad games, you’re gonna have lulls in your season, you’re gonna have good points in the season so we’re trying to get back on that upswing right now,” Esposito said on the improvements for the team and the rest of the season.

Emma Bensley is a student at Pomperaug High in Southbury doing her Senior Project with The Newtown Bee.