Update: This article has been updated with the state playoff opener time change; the November 8 game is set for 5 pm.

BETHEL — It was quite a South-West Conference tournament experience for the No. 6 seed Newtown High School girls’ soccer team. The Nighthawks avenged a regular-season defeat and upset host and No. 3 Bethel 4-1 under sunny skies in the quarterfinals on October 29, then pushed No. 2 and host Brookfield through scoreless regulation and overtime before falling 4-2 in penalty kicks during the semifinals on a Halloween evening.

Sydney Powers and Skyler Howard both scored in PKs but it wasn’t enough after the teams played 180 combined scoreless minutes of soccer having played to a scoreless tie during the regular season, then another 100 during regulation and a pair of ten-minute OT stanzas in the playoffs.

Newtown Coach Marc Kenney described the Brookfield clash as a physical but clean battle and one of the most incredible high school games he has been a part of. “PK shootout losses are so hard, but overall such a fun night. Turn the page — onto the state tournament,” the coach said.

The Nighthawks reached the semis and got some confidence they can carry over into state play by dominating against the Bethel Wildcats. Howard scored twice and Sydney Oltran and Ella Morits also had goals for Newtown. Powers had two assists and Morits and Howard also set up goals.

Howard’s second goal was a perfectly-placed shot into the top right corner of the goal, 8:20 into the second half, giving the Nighthawks some breathing room. A late goal by Morits, off a through ball feed by Powers, capped the scoring.

Goalkeeper Ryann Heim-Sherwood was aggressive and took away scoring chances up high in the 18 yard box. Bella Gerace used her speed to tightly mark Bethel standout Macie Mietz. Kenney noted that the Hawks double-teamed Mietz when necessary as well.

An adjustment the Nighthawks made after losing 3-2 to the Wildcats on October 13 was to move the ball more quickly.

“You can’t play with the ball because they close you down so quickly,” Kenney said. “I’m so proud of their focus and determination.”

The Hawks went 10-3-3 during the regular season and are ranked eighth in Class LL. NHS will host No. 25 Trumbull in the first round on Tuesday, November 8 at 5 pm.

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