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The New Canaan boys soccer team was back to clicking on all cylinders. After a tough 3-2 loss Thursday to Wilton, the Rams came out energized against a physical Fairfield Ludlowe team. Rams sophomore goalie Scott Levene was in All-State form in net, while the New Canaan offense was in the right place at the right time as it downed the Falcons, 3-0.
"Ludlowe came out really physical, and we had to react to that," senior captain Scott O'Brien said. "Once we did that, we did a good job controlling the game. We knew they would come out firing in the second half, and we just needed to keep calm. I think we did a good job of that."
New Canaan was taken by surprise by the Falcons' aggressive play but quickly adjusted. A high bouncing ball dropped in front of Scott O'Brien, who knocked it home to put the Rams up 1-0 in the 26th minute. New Canaan built on that momentum when Charlie Pickhard found the net in the 30th minute.
Ludlowe came out re-energized in the second half and kept the ball in the New Canaan zone for most of the final 40 minutes. Levene's biggest challenge came from the Falcons' Mahmoud Kafel, who had five shots on goal but was denied each time. Levene was every bit of a field general behind his team, calling out signals and encouraging his defenders.
"I just keep talking all game to let the defense know where their man is," he said. "I just try to keep the game at the level of play that we want. We were a lot more aggressive on defense than we have been and did it a lot better."
New Canaan stands at 2-1 on the season. It travels to Brien McMahon on Wednesday.
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