Newtown High School's boys' lacrosse team followed up a hard-fought 10-9 loss to Fairfield Prep in the season opener, on April 1, with a resounding 19-3 triumph over Immaculate of Danbury, on April 3. Both games took place at Blue & Gold Stadium.

In the win over Immaculate, Tucker Garrity had four goals and four assists, Layton Harrell netted four goals to go along with three assists, and Mark Hall had three goals and an assist. Elliot Gregory recorded two goals and a pair of assists, Scott Bauer notched two goals and had a helper, and Colin

McCafferty also netted a pair. Matt Bucci had a goal and an assist and Aiden Coleman added a net-finder. Tanner Stergue and Harrell combined to win 20 faceoffs as the Nighthawks dominated the possession game.

The Nighthawks got out of the gate in impressive fashion, despite coming up just short, in the setback to Prep. Newtown jumped out to a 5-2 lead, and overcame six unanswered Prep tallies and an 8-5 deficit to tie the score, only to see the Jesuits strike twice in succession before holding on.

"I'm really happy with the way we played," Newtown Coach Scott Bulkley said.

The Hawks were beaten 15-4 by host Prep, a perennial state powerhouse that got to the state tournament semifinals a year ago, in the 2016 season-opener. Although there are no points for moral victories, the Hawks certainly had reason to feel good about things as frustrating as it may have been to come oh so close to winning. Especially considering several players got their first varsity start on this afternoon. Newtown lost a dozen players to graduation from last year's lineup.

This year started out well with goals coming early and often. Then the Jesuits answered.

Down three goals in the third quarter, the Hawks got a trio of markers in the final three minutes of the stanza. Even Eggleston cashed in on a chance shortly after Garrity rang a hard shot off the cross bar, making it 8-6 with 2:59 to go. Jacob Meyer scored with just 36 ticks left on the scoreboard clock, and Harrell got things even with just 8 seconds to go.

Prep reclaimed the lead only 53 seconds into the fourth and went up two goals midway through the final period. Eggleston finished off his hat-trick effort with 4:24 to play, and the Hawks had a couple of late possessions but couldn't get the game even one more time.

"We weathered the storm and we fought back and tied the game," noted Bulkley, adding that this was a game of runs. "Somebody's got to win and somebody's got to lose."

Newtown's coach was happy with his offense and felt attackmen on both sides played so well that the opposing defenses, despite being strong, were made to not look as good as they are.

"They play well with each other and they've very unselfish," said Bulkley, adding that the Nighthawks, led by five setups from Garrity, collectively logged eight assists.

Eggleston, in addition to scoring three goals, had an assist, Garrity scored twice, Bauer, McCafferty,  Harrell, and Meyer all hit the back of the net once each, and Bauer, Harrell, and Meyer all added assists.

Newtown goaltender Mason Colon, in his first varsity start, came up with seven saves and was very solid between the pipes, Bulkley noted. The NHS coach was pleased with the work of Harrell and Stergue in the faceoff circle.

Prep's Mitch Savoca, of Newtown, notched three goals in the game.

The Hawks, after visiting New Milford on Thursday, April 6, at 6:30 pm, will host Bethel at Blue & Gold on Tuesday, April 11, in a school vacation special start time beginning at noon.