Doug Reilly
Senior Editor
Two goals on corner kicks, the first by senior captain Tim Pritchard and the second by junior Steven Valente, as well as a goal on a penalty kick by senior captain Jon-Luke Ferrandino, lifted the boys soccer team over the Fairfield Ludlowe Falcons Wednesday night under the lights at Dunning Stadium.
The win brought the Rams’ regular season record to 8-3-5, and they finish as the eighth seed in the FCIAC standings, setting up a quarterfinal rematch against top-seeded Norwalk. Earlier this week, on Monday night, the Rams traveled to Norwalk, and fell to the Bears 4-2.
Not only will the first round matchup be a rematch of Monday night’s game, but also last year’s FCIAC tournament quarterfinal game as well. The then eighth-seeded Rams faced off against Norwalk, the top team in the FCIAC and favorite to win the conference crown. After 80 minutes of play and two ten-minute overtime periods, the score was tied at three, sending the game into penalty kicks. The Rams, led by goalie Scott Levene, upset the Bears, winning on a Steven Valente goal, shocking the FCIAC.
Going into last night’s match against Fairfield Ludlowe, the Rams found themselves in a tie for 7th place in the FCIAC with Westhill. Danbury sat at ninth in the standings, just one point behind the Vikings and Rams for the last playoff spot. Westhill defeated Warde, 3-0, Wednesday night, clinching a spot in FCIACs. Needing a win to ensure a berth into playoff play, the Rams also took care of business, 3-0. Wins last night left the teams tied, once again with 29 points. However, because of the FCIAC’s tiebreak rule, the Vikings, with more wins, jumped ahead of the Rams in the standings, leaving the Rams in the eighth and final playoff spot.
All four FCIAC quarterfinal games will be played this Friday, October 28th, with times still to be determined. Fifth-seeded Greenwich will travel to Westport to battle the fourth-seeded Staples Wreckers; Westhill will visit third seed Darien; seventh-seeded Wilton plays at Trumbull High School against the second-seeded Eagles, and the Rams of New Canaan will once again make the trip to Norwalk High School in an effort to upset the Bears, the favorite to bring home the title.
Stay tuned for the official announcement of game times for this Friday’s quarterfinal matchups.
