The Nighthawk field hockey team remained one of the undefeated Newtown High School teams, along with girls' volleyball and boys' soccer, heading into the final two weeks of the South-West Conference regular season. Newtown defeated Watertown 4-0 at Blue & Gold Stadium on October 21, for its eighth consecutive win and second triumph over the Indians this season.

Following a scoreless first quarter and many shot attempts by Katie Goyda, Reagan Schoen, and Izzy Butler, Schoen was able to tap one in from Goyda halfway into the second. The Nighthawks followed up with a second point late in the third quarter with another assist from Goyda and a goal from Butler. The fourth quarter had a Jenna Reilly to Shannon Kelleher combination as well as yet another assist from Goyda to Sara Miller with just five seconds remaining on the clock.

“Overall, I am happy, what does this make us 8-0? I can’t be anything but happy about that,” Coach Ellen Goyda said.

NHS goalkeepers Rebecca Filiato and Cailyn Sullivan split time in this match and ensured the shutout. Lockdown defense from Victoria Stevenson, Sarah Kick, and Maddie Twitchell resulted in no shots on goal by Watertown in the first half, and Sullivan came up with two big saves late in the game.

Goyda has set an effort standard in her first year as head coach, and believes that this is what has allowed her team to go undefeated thus far.

“Our effort — I can’t be more happy with. Our kids give 100 percent, and my motto is if all you can give me is 80 percent I want 100 percent of that 80 percent. I have the subs this year, if you are tired, raise your hand, I'll get a sub for you, and I'll get fresh legs in and out,” Coach Goyda said.

On October 26, the Nighthawks traveled to New Fairfield High School to take on the Rebels, a team they previously beat 6-2 at home.

The rematch was closer with Newtown winning 2-1 and improving to 9-0. New Fairfield came off a week of quarantine seemingly well-rested and ready to go, Coach Goyda noted, as the Rebels held the undefeated Hawks scoreless in the first half.

Schoen put Newtown on the board on a Goyda setup just 1:27 into the third quarter. That took a little pressure off Newtown until 41 seconds left in the third when the Rebels answered with one of their own tying it up 1-1.

In the 13th minute of the fourth quarter, Butler makes a 40 yard run and drew the defense only to dish off a beautiful pass to Brynn Riley for the winning goal.

“This was definitely a different New Fairfield field hockey team than we played the first time around. They definitely did their homework. They played smart and aggressive. They had me nervous too many times for my liking," Coach Goyda said.

The NHS coach said Sarah Kick, Victoria Stevenson, Jenna Reilly, and Goyda — who has been playing out of her normal forward position having been moved back to the midfield position for the better of the team — all played a great game, many times stopping those threatening New Fairfield offensive runs and converting it back to Newtown's offensive transitions.