DANBURY — Newtown High School's girls' soccer team may have lost its South-West Conference Tournament Championship game — the No. 2 Nighthawks were shut out by No. 1 Notre Dame Prep of Fairfield 3-0 at Western Connecticut State University on October 26 — but the Hawks walked away having gained some valuable experience.

With several freshmen and sophomores who are starters or regulars in the lineup, the Hawks can look to the future as much as they are pushing for success in the here and now.

Newtown will again look to find immediate playoff success as they embark on what Coach Adam Bourret and company hope is a lengthy State Tournament run. But, win or lose in that bracket, this postseason experience stands to benefit the Hawks.

"It's a great run. It's a young team and we're inexperienced," Bourret said. "It's a learning experience for everyone, and not just the underclassmen. It's great to be here and experience it."

The teams were scoreless for most of the first half thanks, in part, to the Nighthawk defense turning away the Lancers — the only conference foe to figure out a way to defeat NHS during the regular slate. Notre Dame had the better of the play, shots on goal, and pressure.

Newtown's Leah Morris had a run up the right wing that created a corner kick with ten minutes to play in the first half. Lyla Kopp's left-footed corner setup was thwarted. The Lancers countered with pressure and a right-side corner of their own and scored directly the sharp angle corner kick with 8:17 left in the half.

The Lancers scored only 50 seconds into the second half and added another goal off a corner kick setup with 18:13 left.

Falling short of the goal to win it all may be disappointing for the Hawks but Bourret hopes the outcome fuels the team members in this year's state tourney and beyond.

"It gives them a little hunger — a little drive," Bourret said.