NEW MILFORD — Newtown High School’s field hockey team earned the South-West Conference Tournament championship with a 4-0 blanking of Joel Barlow of Redding at neutral site New Milford High on a crisp November 4 night.

Izzy Butler scored the first two goals, both on penalty strokes set up by tourney MVP Reagan Schoen who was fouled in the circle each time.

Schoen added a goal of her own, made possible in more way than one by Summer Harrell who was fouled to set up a penalty corner, then assisted the goal.

Morgan Melillo, assisted by Butler, capped the scoring.

Butler broke the ice with 1:55 remaining in the opening quarter and the 1-0 lead held until late in the third. The second tally came with 3:35 left in the third stanza, and Schoen’s goal came less than two minutes later, with 1:37 showing on the scoreboard clock.

Newtown padded its lead just 2:03 into the fourth, giving the Nighthawks a trio of cage-finders in a span of 5:38.

Starting goaltender Cailyn Sullivan made four saves and Kaelin Rising came in late in the game and made one stop to preserve the shutout.

The Nighthawks got strong defense from Maggie LaBanca, Nella Walsh, and Lexi Bisset.

Harrell and Katelyn Zaniewski used their speed and stick skills to set up chances. Erin Shah, Jules Battaglia, and Ellie Meyer also made notable contributions throughout the game, Coach Ellen Goyda said.

Check back online and in the November 12 print edition of The Bee to see more coverage of the championship game.

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