SOUTHBURY — For the first time since 2017, Newtown High School's girls' lacrosse team is at the top in the South-West Conference. The Nighthawks defeated New Fairfield 12-7 in the conference title game at neutral site Pomperaug High on May 24.

Game MVP Summer Harrell and Bella Gerace both netted three goals and added an assist. Jules Battaglia had two goals and a pair of assists, and Ava Mitchell, Natalie McLean, Jen Socci, and Brooke Bulkley all added tallies.

Goaltender Alexa Manfredonia stopped eight shots, including some timely saves to thwart New Fairfield momentum. The Nighthawks built a 10-4 lead before the Rebels sliced the lead in half. Battaglia's nice back-door pass to McLean for a goal stopped the New Fairfield run, and Harrell capped the scoring with a pretty top-shelf goal.

Allie Bradley had nine draw controls and Harrell compiled seven draw controls as Newtown dominated the possession game.

The Nighthawks were beaten by the Rebels in last year's conference semifinals. This was Newtown's second title-game appearance in the past three years.

Read more about the championship in the June 2 print edition of The Bee.