Simsbury ends Norwalk’s season

By MIKE MADAR
Hour Correspondent

NORWALK — Simsbury scored two second half goals to rally for a 2-1 win over Norwalk in the Class LL second round Thursday night. The fourth-seeded Bears struck first in the 49th minute but a Trojans goal less than four minutes later and another with 11 minutes to play brought Norwalk’s season to a disappointing end.

Simsbury (12-2-4) will face a third straight FCIAC opponent on Saturday when it visits No. 5 Staples in the quarter-finals at 2 p.m.

“I thought we had the better play and created the better chances,” Norwalk head coach Chris Laughton said. “Two breakdowns unfortunately cost us the game.”

Norwalk took the lead 8:32 into the second half when Jake Zuniga let a shot rip from 25 yards out. Possibly screened, Trojans keeper Adam Ziewacz dove to his right but the ball crossed the line in the middle of the goal for a 1-0 lead.

“When they scored I thought we were in big trouble, deep trouble,” Simsbury head coach Ed Lynch said.

The Trojans responded quickly, however, as Matthew Poomprakobsri chased down a through ball and headed it past keeper Svet Kozak, who was a split second late.

“After the Norwalk goal we had a rush of adrenaline,” Lynch said.

For the Bears, who seemed to be in the driver’s seat, their momentum had suddenly vanished.

“Unfortunately we just gave up a weak goal,” Laughton said. “After that I thought we responded well.”

Norwalk carried the play in the middle part of the second half but the Trojans defense led by sweeper Blake Mercer kept Andres Torres and the rest of the Bears silent.

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