A win is a win no matter how a team gets it, but an overtime triumph is all the more special. Add to that the fact it was Newtown High School's field hockey team's first W of the campaign and the 2-1 OT victory over visiting Masuk of Monroe on September 16 had even more meaning for the Nighthawks.

"We needed that so badly," NHS Coach Megan Goyda said.

After scoring just once in four defeats to begin the season, the Hawks set out to establish some control on offense. Newtown piled up the shots on goal, racking up 14 shots on cage and creating numerous chances which led to plenty of chaos in front of the Panther goal and 13 penalty corners.

"Our goal coming in was to create more offense, which we were able to do," Goyda said.

Newtown had a 1-0 lead at halftime and looked to build on it before being turned away again and again. Masuk tied things on a counterattack and the game went to a seven on seven, first goal wins, ten-minute overtime.

The Panthers had some early OT chances that Nighthawk goaltender Stella Wasley and the Hawk defense denied. Evelynn Schoen intercepted a pass that led to scoring opportunities by Charlotte Grasso — who netted the first goal — and Kendal Kuzma. Newtown generated a penalty corner chance and converted exactly four minutes into the extra session. Lyla Bshara's insert and a give-and-go passing exchange between Schoen and Emily O'Neil made it possible for Schoen to end the game when she whipped a hard shot past Masuk’s goalie, Molly Unis.

Goyda was pleased her team kept battling and did not give up despite being stopped on so many chances, including numerous opportunities created by Kaitlyn Doyle, Grasso, Schoen, Kuzma, O'Neil, and Bshara. "You can't ask for anything more," the coach said.

Newtown got back to action on September 22 with a nonconference home game against Daniel Hand of Madison and fell 5-1. Grasso scored the Nighthawk goal, assisted by Claire Caico.

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