Off to a 5-1-1 start, Newtown High School’s girls soccer team has not only been aided by some newcomers to the lineup but to some degree carried by freshmen. Generally a ninth-grader or two might find their way into the starting lineup or onto the field for some regular game action, but this year’s version of the Nighthawks had a major contribution from freshmen.

The future might be even brighter than it appears. On top of five of 11 lineup starters/regulars being freshmen, a sixth would-be starter — Gia Mascaro — is hopeful of coming back from a preseason injury this fall. Basically about half the starting lineup stands to have extensive varsity experience under its belts for multiple seasons, as the groundwork is being laid for the future.

But never mind what is to come. The here and now are looking pretty darn good considering the Nighthawks have already won a handful of games, falling only in a 1-0 season-opening decision to perennial South-West Conference powerhouse Notre Dame Prep of Fairfield and outscoring their first six opponents a cumulative 18-2. The Nighthawks won their second consecutive 7-0 decision, following up a road win over Stratford on September 16 with a home triumph over Kolbe Cathedral of Bridgeport two nights later. They traveled to New Fairfield on September 20 and finished in a scoreless tie with the Rebels.

One of the fantastic freshmen is starting goalkeeper Elise Ansman, who has helped the Nighthawks hold five consecutive opponents scoreless. Center defender Mascaro will only bolster an already stout back line, which also features freshman Addie Kopp, in front of Ansman. The Nighthawks keeper admits things can get a little lonely around the goal when her team is in control of the game, which has typically been the case thus far. “It’s definitely very fun. We’re a very good team — sometimes I really don’t do much,” she said.

Delia Stango has made an immediate impact on offense; the right winger has regularly been scoring goals from the get-go with help from freshman forward Makenzie Fregoe, Each of these players starts, and center midfielder Olivia Fernandes sees solid minutes off the bench.

The large contingent of freshmen making an immediate impact, although highly unusual, is of no surprise to Nighthawks Coach Adam Bourret, who said in preseason the lineup had some exciting young talent joining the ranks. Bourret noted that these soccer standouts have been playing travel soccer with the AC Connecticut program under the direction of Coach Barry O’Reilly, and came into the NHS program with already-impressive resumes.

“We knew they were coming and obviously they’re doing big things,” Bourret said. “The fact they’ve been playing together for so long helps us out in the long run.”

Talent and youth travel experiences aside, these are 14-year-olds going up against, in some instances, athletes three and four years older and more experienced at the varsity level — a tall task to overcome.

“The first game was definitely intimidating. Learning how most high school teams play I was able to adapt to it and feel more confident,” Stango said.

These players were asked to shake off their nerves and do their thing on the varsity field in game one and there has been no looking back.

“They’ve embraced that and it’s been full throttle since then,” Bourret said.

Leah Morris, a senior captain, said the freshmen have been great additions and that the returning players have welcomed them to make the transition from club soccer to the high school varsity level as seamless as possible — something the freshmen themselves help with given they arrived as a large group.

“They’re doing a really good job — they’re very experienced and they have each other. Everyone’s been very welcoming and they’re showing their talent on the field,” Morris said.

“All the girls are really nice,” Ansman added.

In the win over Kolbe, Newtown built a 4-0 lead at halftime, tacked on three quick goals in the second half, then took the pedal off the metal. The Nighthawks played a possession game for the final 30 or so minutes. Stango opened the scoring and followed up junior Blake Heim-Sherwood’s tally for a 3-0 lead. Fregoe added to the advantage before the half. Senior Teagan Waaler made it 5-0 just after the break, senior Addie O’Leary made it 6-0, and senior Eva Ziemnicki, assisted by sophomore Summer Chajlub, capped the scoring.

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