By Kim J. Harmon

SOUTHBURY – Coach Kathy Davey knew that if the Newtown High School field hockey team was ever going to beat Pomperaug – a perennial powerhouse in the South-West Conference – then she was going to have to figure out a different way to go after them.

She did. And after 20 minutes were gone in the game on Tuesday, it was the Nighthawks sitting on a surprising, 1-0, advantage thanks to a goal at the 14:37 mark by Rachel Bolmer.

But Pomperaug figured out something, too – figured out how to overcome a shaky beginning and rally back from an early deficit. When all was said and done, the Lady Panthers escaped with a 4-1 win.

“We switched our strategy a little bit and it really worked,” said coach Davey, who saw her team drop to 2-9-3 on the season. “I think I’m going to play more of that strategy.”

Of course, that will be next year. The ‘Hawks have just two games left on the schedule (New Fairfield on Thursday and Shepaug on Friday) and a return trip to the CIAC state tournament is not going to happen.

But at least the ‘Hawks could be going out well. They captured their second win of the season last Thursday with a 2-1 decision against Masuk and on Tuesday were pretty sharp despite what the eventual final score might indicate.

“The kids played well today,” said coach Davey. “They really did.”

Bolmer put the ‘Hawks on top nearly 16 minutes into the first half with her first goal of the season. The lead didn’t last too long, though. Just 3:12 later, Erika Blinstrub scored the first of her two goals as she hammered a shot from the top of the circle that banged hard into the cage and tied the score, 1-1.

That’s how the first half ended, but Pomperaug made a strong push on the cage early in the second half. Heather Morgan had to two really tough saves and Dana Martenson was forced to clear a ball that had crossed in front of the cage, with Morgan still fighting to get back in position.

Newtown could only withstand the pressure so long. With 19:54 left, Caitlin Elinski put Pomperaug ahead, 2-1, and 12:52 later Nicky Pickman staked the Panthers to a more comfortable 3-1 lead. Blinstrub followed up with her second goal with just five seconds left on the clock.

Pomperaug – which raised its own record to 10-1-3 on the season – outshot Newtown, 16-4, and forced Morgan to make 13 saves on the afternoon. She was often brilliant in front of the cage, withstanding strong pressure.

In the 2-1 win over Masuk last week, Cannon Jones scored her first goal of the season and Morgan Pacheco scored her second and helped avenge a loss the Nighthawks suffered to the Pantherettes back on Saturday, September 22.

The ‘Hawks hosted New Fairfield on Thursday (after press time) on Senior Night and on Friday, at 7 pm, will host non-league rival (and Berkshire League powerhouse) Shepaug to conclude the 2001 regular season.