Cheshire, CT — For the second consecutive spring, Newtown High School’s girls’ lacrosse team edged nonconference foe Cheshire by the slimmest of margins in an early-season battle, topping the host Rams 12-11 on April 14; last year, the host Nighthawks prevailed 14-13. Newtown trailed 8-7 at the half and came back for an 11-9 lead with about ten minutes to go before the teams traded goals the rest of the way. The Nighthawks improved to 3-0. Summer Harrell had four goals and an assist. Ava Mitchell scored three times and added an assist, Jules Battaglia had three goals, Brooke Bulkley scored twice, and Allie Bradley added an assist. Harrell and Bradley each had five draw controls. Bulkley and Battaglia had four and three ground balls, respectively. Rachael Albrecht caused two Cheshire turnovers. Goaltender Alexa Manfredonia made five saves. In the second half, Bradley dominated the draw circle and Harrell sparked the offense. Newtown Coach Maura Fletcher said, “We benefited from our seasoned attackers Jules Battaglia and Ava Mitchell stepping up and getting loose balls on the offensive end and scoring key goals. It was a real team effort,” the coach added. “Cheshire struggled with major fouls, which gave Newtown man-up situations that we capitalized on,” Fletcher said. “We have a very young but talented team this year. There were a lot of mental mistakes on the field that we will clean up before facing a tough Weston team on Thursday.” The Nighthawks, after visiting Weston — last year’s South-West Conference runners-up to New Fairfield, which went into the middle of April unbeaten at 4-0 — on Thursday, will return home Saturday, April 22 when Bethel visits Blue & Gold Stadium for an afternoon game at 3:30. Newtown scored a combined 43 goals in its first three games. Now come some potentially tough in-conference tests. In addition to facing Weston, the upcoming slate includes Brookfield (3-1-1) and New Fairfield (4-0 with 59 goals scored) heading into April 18 action. The Hawks, after a Monday, April 24, visit to Immaculate of Danbury at 4 pm, visit Brookfield the next night at 6, then go to New Fairfield Thursday, April 27, also at 6 o’clock. Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at [email protected]. https://www.newtownbee.com/04212023/girls-lacrosse-team-edges-cheshire-by-a-goal-again/