Torres Scores 4 in Norwalk’s Win

NORWALK — Norwalk’s boys soccer team learned a lesson in Tuesday’s loss to Fairfield Warde. And it took the team only two days to apply it. The Bears and senior forward Andres Torres took control early at rainy Testa Field Thursday night and blanked the Black Knights, 6-0. Torres scored four goals for Norwalk (10-2), including three straight within a five-minute span in the first half. The victory helped ease the sting of Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to the Mustangs.

“They didn’t come out hard in that game and I think they learned a lesson from that,” Norwalk coach Chris Laughton said. “Tonight they came out aggressive and controlled the game from start to finish.”

Torres took a beautiful cross from Santiago Muriel and one-timed a rocket into an open net in the 20th minute. He connected a little over one minute later when he took a through ball from Jake Zuniga and ripped a shot past Stamford goalkeeper Yeisson Llanos. Torres scored again in the 25th minute off an assist from Spencer Jacoby. Torres, Muriel and Kevin Joslyn added second half goals for Norwalk.

It was an important bounce back win for Norwalk, which is the current No. 1 seed for the upcoming Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference tournament and ranked No. 2 in the state. Laughton liked what he saw in the team’s aggressive approach in Thursday’s win. “I’d be concerned if we didn’t play hard from the outset,” he said. “I think tonight’s game showed they learned they have to come out and play with intensity in every game.”

The Bears certainly left an impression on veteran Stamford coach Mario Caminiti. “In my opinion they’re the best team we’ve played this year,” Caminiti said. “We tried to match their energy the best we could. They’re a good team and they play well together. Even with that, I’m proud of my guys. They played as hard as they could.”

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