Newtown High School’s boys’ lacrosse team toppled host Immaculate of Danbury 21-3 on May 5. Colin Breslin led the offensive charge with seven goals and an assist, and Jake Bulkley had four goals and two assists. Colby Harrell netted three goals, Andrew Swierbut and Fisher Stites both notched a goal and three assists, Chris Stowell, Jake Gonski, and J.J. Haddick each had a goal, and Michael Ihlefeld and Kyle Ruddy both had a goal and an assist. Swierbut and Stites combined for 23 faceoff wins and Jake Bulkley picked up 12 ground balls.

The Nighthawks were coming off a 13-7 setback to visiting nonconference foe Glastonbury on May 4. Bulkley had two goals and three assists, Matt Jacobs had a goal and three assists, Sam Steare scored twice, Harrell and Stites had goals, and Swierbut recorded an assist. Bulkley scooped nine ground balls.

Newtown suffered a hard-fought 14-11 setback to visiting Pomperaug of Southbury on May 10. The Nighthawks fell behind 7-2 at the half and trailed twice by six goals in the second half before a spirited comeback effort saw them pull to within two goals twice.

Breslin scored four goals, Bulkley netted three, and Jacobs had two goals and an assist. Harrell and Stites also had goals, and Sam Steare added an assist.

Bulkley scooped 11 ground balls, James Celentano had five, Colin Breslin and Stowell four, and Jacobs and Haddick three apiece.

Newtown scored just 15 seconds out of the halftime break, but Pomperaug responded 15 seconds after that to reclaim the five-goal advantage. Newtown trailed by six on three occasions in the third quarter and it was 11-5 going to the fourth.

Two consecutive goals by Breslin, one by Bulkley, and one by Jacobs off a nice pass from Steare made things very interesting at 11-9 with 6:47 to play, prompting a Pomperaug timeout.

The Panthers answered just 13 seconds later, following a near NHS faceoff win. Less than a minute later, Pomperaug made it 13-9. Breslin got the Hawks to within 13-10 with 4:38 left. After a pair of very close Nighthawk opportunities were denied, Bulkley gave Newtown some hope, making it 13-11 with 1:06 to play.

Pomperaug won the faceoff battle 17-10. Newtown came up with some key draw wins to spark the comeback effort, but it was too little, too late.

“This has kind of been our Achilles heel. We dig ourselves a hole and have to try to fight out of it,” Coach Scott Bulkley said.

The NHS coach added that he was proud of the team for battling back but needs to see it put together four strong quarters to have more success. Newtown fell to 4-9 overall.

It was Senior Night and Mike Ihlefeld, Matt Jacobs, Colin Breslin, Markus Paltauf, Chris Stowell, Jake Bulkley, Matt Biondi, Jake Gonski, Andrew Jacobs, James Celentano, Justin Zemo, John O’Sullivan, and Isaiah Williams were honored.

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