Norwalk Boys Soccer Has Some Offensive Holes To Fill [Video]

The Norwalk boys soccer team has a few holes to fill from last year's talented squad that won the FCIAC regular season title.

The Bears, 13-2 in the regular season and 15-4 overall, have to replace Andres Torres, who led the FCIAC in goals last season with 27 and left Norwalk as the school's second all-time leading scorer. 

A two-time All-State pick, Torres is playing college soccer this season at Division II Adelphi.

Also gone is midfielder Jake Zuniga, who chose Fairfield over Connecticut and Central Connecticut. Torres and Zuniga, Norwalk's second-leading scorer eight goals and 14 assists, were the two main cogs on a team that outscored its opponents 70-16 last season.

Norwalk graduated nine seniors. Fabian Carvajal joined Torres and Zuniga as players who had been on the varsity since freshmen.

The other seniors lost include Ricky Joslyn, Danny Quintero, Chris Jeffrey, Lara Santiago, Kevin Lawrence and Spencer Jacoby.

However, the returning players should be highly motivated. Despite the successful regular season, last year ended in disappointing fashion for the Bears, who were upset in the first round of the FCIAC playoffs and the second round of the CIAC Class LL state tournament.

In the FCIACs, Norwalk lost on penalty kicks to New Canaan, which went on to capture the state championship.

Norwalk graduated a lot of firepower, but the Bears should once again be strong in the goals-against department with the return of goaltender Svet Kozak, who is just a sophomore. Kozak started as a freshman and had a goals-against average of under one.

Norwalk will be looking to its core of six returning seniors, including captains Nick Zuniga and Chris Puente, to build on last year's success. The other seniors on the roster are Mike Broncati, Erick Romero, Taylor Jellerette and Teddy Faroni.

Norwalk's junior class is deep with 12 11th-graders on the roster. The Bears open their season on Sept. 14 against St. Joseph.

Chris Laughton is entering his fifth season as the Bears' coach after winning only four games in his first year.

losing in the first round of the FCIACs and in the second round of the Class LL state tournament. Norwalk fell in the FCIA
C tourney after going through overtime and into penalty kicks against New Canaan, which lost in the semifinals but went on to capture the state crown in the Class L tournament.

The Bears' season ended in Class LL with a 2-1 loss to Simsbury at Sam Testa Field on Nov. 11.

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