Defense and goaltending have stood out for Newtown High School’s girls’ lacrosse team in the early going. The Nighthawks, coming off a 4-3 win over Joel Barlow of Redding in the season opener, scored a 15-6 triumph over visiting New Milford at Blue & Gold Stadium on April 4, then bested host Stratford 13-4 on April 9. All three opponents are South-West Conference rivals.

“We have a lot of speed and athleticism throughout our defense,” Coach Maura Fletcher said after the win over the New Milford Green Wave.

Defenders Kiera Sughrue, Colleen Phanuef, and Emma Magazu are standouts in the back, and midfielders Rylee Harrell, Keeley Kortze, and Shea Murphy have been solid in helping guard opponents.

“They’re really good defensive middies,” Fletcher said.

Younger players, including Maggie McInerney, Ella Hage, and Erin Phaneuf, are getting more comfortable on the varsity field, Fletcher added.

Goaltenders Kat Trammel, Catie Gregory, and Tess Davenport have been solid when called upon.

In the win over New Milford, Harrell had four goals and two assists, Lu Hage had three goals and an assist, Alison Kelleher and Julia Gerace each netted a pair of goals and added two assists, Ella Hage scored twice, and McInerney and Erin Phaneuf both added goals.

The Newtown coach said, following the win over the Green Wave, that she would like to see her team improve on passing and spacing, as well as rides to keep the pressure on opposing teams looking to move the ball up field.

The Nighthawks, in their victory over Stratford, got four goals and a trio of assists off Kortze's stick. Kelleher had three goals and an assist, Harrell netted two goals and had an assist, Lu Hage had a goal and an assist, and Murphy scored. Magazu had two of Newtown's six interceptions.

Newtown is in the midst of four consecutive road games before returning to Blue & Gold Stadium to take on Pomperaug of Southbury, Thursday, April 18, at 7 pm. This is the only home contest in a stretch of eight games.