By Kim J. Harmon

NEW MILFORD – Sometimes it’s all about opportunities and the Newtown High School field hockey team had several opportunities to do something against New Milford on Tuesday night. Sadly, they couldn’t take advantage of those opportunities.

One thing or another – be it bad luck or a good defensive play – prevented it. And thus a 3-0 loss to the Green Wave on Tuesday, a 2-1 loss to Haddam-Killingworth on Saturday, and a 2-0 loss to Weston last Thursday dropped the Nighthawks to 1-8-3.

The Green Wave scored twice in the first half – once at 19:49 and once at 17:35 – to take a quick lead. Then they held on as the ‘Hawks attempted time and again to fight their way back into the game.

They had chances.

With 14:20 left in the first half, Morgan Pacheco had a nice run down the field, through two New Milford defenders, and managed to get off a blistering shot that just went wide left. With 6:42 left, Robin Pacheco – in for just a moment – made a stellar save of a ball heading out of bounds, preserving a scoring opportunity that led to a penalty corner.

But nothing came of any of that.

Good defensive work by the ‘Hawks in the first half prevented further damage. Goaltender Heather Morgan made a nice pad save on a very hard shot from the top of the circle and shortly after that Katie Lahey stopped a ball that had gotten past Morgan amidst a flurry of activity in the circle.

The second half opened with Newtown pressing hard for the cage. With only two minutes gone, Elissa Boushell pushed a ball deep into the circle where Kristen McGrath ripped a shot that ended up being deflected over the end line. With 10:08 left, Jess Omasta rocketed a shot from about 30 yards out that barreled into the circle. The ‘Hawks weren’t quick enough down the field to take advantage of the rebound off the goalie’s pads.

New Milford took a 3-0 lead with 6:05 to go. A hard charge downfield – started by an almost fluke steal at midfield – led to a shot near the right post. New Milford stopped the ball was going over the end line and then managed to poke it past Morgan into the cage.

The ‘Hawks hosted Masuk on Thursday (after press time) and will travel to Southbury on Tuesday to take on Pomperaug. Games against New Fairfield on Thursday, October 25, and Shepaug on Friday, October 26, will finish out the regular season.