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Rams Stun Top-Seeded Norwalk

New Canaan High sent shock waves through the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference on Friday when the eight-seeded Rams stunned top-seeded Norwalk, 4-3, in penalty kicks in the first round of the league tournament. The Rams (8-4-3) advance to Monday's semifinals while the Bears (14-3) await the Class LL tournament.

New Canaan won 4-3 in penalty kicks. After outstanding goalkeeper Scott Levene stopped Norwalk striker Andres Torres on the fifth penalty kick, freshman Steven Velente calmly stepped up and drilled a shot past Norwalk goalie Jake Ross.

"I was nervous,'' Velente said. "Scott gave me some good advice. He told me, 'Don't look at the goalie.' I just shot it hard and low."

New Canaan rallied from three one-goal deficits. Torres scored three times for the Bears. Each time, the Rams responded. Nicolas Deambrosio scored in the 45th minute, and Jon-Luke Ferrandino's goal with 15:15 left in regulation sent it into overtime. After Torres scored with 7:16 left in the first overtime, Levene scored on a direct kick from about 50 yards out to force penalty kicks.

"I was just looking to get it to my teammates and give them a good ball,'' Levene said. "Luckily, it went in."

In penalty kicks, James Burton, Ferrandino and Levene converted for New Canaan before Velente stepped up in the biggest spot in his career. "Coach (Victor) Sanchez told me I was fifth, and I was nervous about it,'' Velente said. "But I like being in that position."

Sanchez felt confident once the game got into penalty kicks the Rams would prevail. Levene, one of the league's top goalkeepers, stopped two Norwalk shots. "I was very confident,'' Sanchez said. "I was 100 percent sure we would get the win."

Even after falling behind early, Sanchez believed the Rams would not get rattled after Torres scored 33 seconds into the game. "Because it was early, I knew we were OK,'' Sanchez said. "The same thing happened to us in the second half against Westhill, and we came back. I knew these guys would respond."

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