Every face is at least a somewhat unfamiliar one these days, what with mask-wearing and social distancing in place resulting from the coronavirus. But a new, yet familiar face is in place with the Newtown High School field hockey team this fall.

Ellen Goyda takes over the varsity team and is excited to see what the Nighthawks can do. She brings a wealth of playing and coaching experience from the youth to collegiate level.

Goyda, whose daughter Katie Goyda has set scoring records for the Nighthawks and is a returning team member this year, has had a prior coaching tenure in town with the youth program and is familiar with the upperclassmen, whom she led as middle school players.

“They know I’m a stickler for the basics,” Goyda said.

Prior to running the town’s youth program for eight years, culminating a few calendar turns ago, Goyda coached 15 years at Immaculate High of Danbury and coached at Western Connecticut State University. She was a standout player at both Immaculate and Western, and belongs to the sports Hall of Fame at each school.

The Nighthawks are scheduled to begin the season with an October 1 visit to Pomperaug of Southbury at 4:30 pm. The first home game is set for October 3 when Brookfield visits Blue and Gold Stadium at 6 pm.

“I’m excited. I love coaching the girls,” Goyda said.