Following an unbeaten, South-West Conference North Division championship season, Newtown High School’s boys’ soccer team is again striving for a title in what the players and coaches hope will be a traditional fall campaign.

The Nighthawks will have a little more work cut out for them with the return to the regular format, in which the conference is not split into two divisions. Newtown will have to contend with the likes of South Division winner Weston and runner-up Joel Barlow of Redding, along with the team the Nighthawks beat in last year’s title game — New Milford — to name a few.

Another change? The Nighthawks lost 15 players to graduation, so there is a new look for Coach Ryan Lyddy and company.

And on top of all of that is the fact that opposing teams will undoubtedly have the Hawks circled on their schedules.

“They have a big target on their shoulders and want to continue what the last group left them,” Lyddy said of his players.

All of this said, the Nighthawks have the same goals: Winning their division, the conference title, and getting into state tournament to make some noise there. Winning every game again might be a tough task, but it is the team’s target out of the gate.

“That’s the ultimate goal. You don’t want to lose,” Lyddy said. “The goal is to beat everybody.”

That said, following any given loss (or win, for that matter) Lyddy wants his team to react positively from outcomes, and learn and build from wins and losses alike.

The lineup is reloaded with 15 seniors again, including many who had substantial playing last year. Among the team’s strengths are its closeness and the shared discipline of following all of last year’s regulations, from mask-wearing to social distancing off the playing field.

“Biggest thing is the camaraderie these guys have, the discipline these guys have for each other. I think they learned a lot last year about how to be disciplined and trust each other,” said Lyddy. “I think that’s going to go a long way.”

Captains are defenders Mark Sadowski and Hunter Baillargeon, forward/midfielder Jake Gonski, and midfielder Gunnar Bozentko.

Other key players include midfielder Greg Gargano, defender Bennen Blessy, midfielder/defender Mateo Mauro, and forward Justin Zemo.

A trio of players were competing for the top goalkeeper spot as the preseason unfolded: Mike Connors, Connor Troy, and Yarema Stasyshyn.

Newtown begins the season with a visit to nonconference foe Farmington on Thursday, September 9, beginning at 6 pm. After a visit to SWC rival Brookfield on Tuesday, September 14, the Hawks will host another SWC squad, Bunnell of Stratford, on Friday, September, 17; both of those are also 6 pm starts. Naugatuck and Fairfield Warde are other nonconference games on the slate.

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