On a night all six final-year players were honored — Senior Night — all of those players also scored goals. Quite a feat in a 7-0 Newtown win over Harding-Bassick of Bridgeport at Blue & Gold Stadium on October 13.

Most of the seniors play an attacking role, and defender Sara Ruddy was moved up for a chance to score in the second half. The seniors were subbed out of the game with ten minutes to play to be honored by fans.

"Proud of this group — happy to spend my first four seasons with them," said Coach Adam Bourret, adding that, since this is his fourth season, players said it was his Senior Night, too.

Seniors Ruddy, Ana Morris, Blake Heim-Sherwood, Natalie DelCampo, Clare Csaszar, and Lindsey Civitelli all hit the back of the net. Junior Teegan Svendsen added a goal as well. Seniors Logan LeRow and Gabby Costa, both team managers, were also recognized by the Nighthawks.

This win certainly was a memorable one for the Nighthawks. The Hawks earned a 2-0 victory over visiting New Fairfield, behind its underclassmen, on October 8. Newtown improved to 6-3-1 and is in eighth place, three points ahead of Bethel for the final South-West Conference playoff spot. New Fairfield is 8-3-0 and in fourth place in the standings.

"We needed it because they're above us in the standings," said Bourret, whose team went into the stretch run with games to be played against Bunnell of Stratford, Joel Barlow of Redding, Pomperaug of Southbury, and Kolbe Cathedral of Bridgeport. Pomperaug sits in second place, Barlow in fifth, and the other two remaining teams out of the playoff picture in the SWC.

Morris, near the far-side post, converted an Olivia Fernandes corner kick from the left side for a first-half goal. Newtown again scored off a reset in the second half. Sia Verma put away a deflection off a long free kick by Gianna Mascaro. Fernandes again was in on making the goal possible. She challenged the New Fairfield goalkeeper on the initial kick, allowing Verma to clean up.

Nighthawk goalkeeper Elise Ansman made a diving save on a penalty kick early in the second half, sprawling to her right to get fingers on the ball and direct it off the left post.

Newtown had a decisive advantage in possession and opportunities throughout most of the night.

"First half was all us. They had a little spunk in the second half. We were able to thwart them — bend but not break," Bourret said. "We moved the ball, kept it simple, stuck to the game plan and put the ball in the back of the net."

"We really needed that win," Fernandes said. "We possessed the ball very well. We were in their end most of the game."

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