Just call these Nighthawks the road warriors — at least to start. Newtown High School’s girls’ soccer team is scheduled to be on the road for five of its first six matchups.

The season is scheduled to begin with a road tilt against nonconference foe Seymour on Thursday at 4 pm. The Nighthawks, after a trip to Portsmouth, R.I. September 10 (time to be announced), will visit defending South-West Conference champion Brookfield in their first SWC matchup, on September 13 starting at 6 pm. Newtown hosts Bunnell of Stratford under the lights at Blue & Gold Stadium on Friday, September 16, starting at 7 pm.

The Nighthawks visit Weston, which was runner-up in the conference, on Tuesday, September 20, starting at 6 pm. Newtown visits rival Immaculate of Danbury Thursday, September 22, at 4 pm. Then come three straight home games beginning with a Tuesday, September 27, visit from Joel Barlow of Redding at 6 pm.

Captains are midfielders Bella Gerace and Riley Powers along with defender Hannah Snayd and goalkeeper Ryann Heim-Sherwood.

Assistant Coaches Laura McLean and Marykate Fahy noted that the captains have held a small roster of players together as they prepared during preseason.

“They’re engaged. They want to be here,” McLean said.

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