Newtown High School’s field hockey team achieved perfection during the regular season, winning all 16 games, including a 10-0 mark in South-West Conference play. The No. 1 seed Nighthawks look to continue their success in the SWC playoffs when they host No. 8 Joel Barlow of Redding in the quarterfinals on Saturday, November 2, at 4 pm.

In a pair of home contests, the Nighthawks defeated Weston 7-1 on October 24 and Masuk of Monroe 4-0 on Senior Night, the last game of the regular slate, October 28.

Newtown Coach Shannon Paproski noted that the Nighthawks got a “Kat-trick” from Kat Trammel, who scored three goals in the triumph over Weston. Izzy Butler, Katie Goyda, Reagan Schoen, and Katie Dirga also scored. Goyda, Butler, Dirga, and Jenna Reilly had assists.

Against Masuk, Reilly had two goals and an assist, and Trammel and Aniko Walsh had assists. Paproski noted that Reilly and defender Meghan O’Rourke had standout performances in the win.

Paproski said the Nighthawks know they are the team to beat and have a tough task ahead as they look to maintain these winning ways in a must-win setting that begins with the conference tourney and continues into the state playoffs.

“This is a great group,” Paproski said.

Newtown had very few close contests during the season. A 1-0 win over Immaculate of Danbury, the No. 2 seed in the SWC bracket, provided by far the toughest test. Immaculate will host No. 7 Bethel, No. 3 Pomperaug of Southbury takes on No. 6 Masuk, and No. 4 New Milford hosts No. 4 New Fairfield in the other quarterfinal games. The semis will take place Tuesday, November 5, with the championship set for Thursday, November 6.