Sports
Norwalk Beats St.Joseph 4-1 In Soccer Opener [VIDEO]
Michael Broncati scores two goals for the Bears, who are the reigning FCIAC regular-season champions
The first game of the season is one of those events that let's you know if what you were watching in preseason actually was as good as it looked.
The work of the coaching staff in preseason was worth the effort as the Norwalk boys soccer team opened its season with a 4-1 win over St. Joseph on Wednesday night.
The Bears dominated the time of possession and moved systematically up the field with long change-of-field and through balls. At times it appeared as if St. Joseph was playing short handed as Norwalk came at the Cadets in waves.
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The Cadets easily could have blown out 7-1 in this game, but their gritty style of play helped them stave off the more skilled Norwalk squad and keep the game respectable.
Michael Broncati opened the scoring at the 34-minute mark, receiving a pass between three Cadets defenders as he waltzed into the 18 and put the ball in the net past a diving Paul Monks, who made 10 saves in the losing effort.
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Norwalk continued to dominate play until a defensive lapse in its end gave St.Joseph an opportunity to level the score on a goal by Chris Farens with 25 minutes left in the first half.
Norwalk was unfazed. Broncati came right back five minutes later, took a ball away from the last Cadets' defender and deftly pocketed it into the lower left corner for his second goal of the game. Broncati scored a total of four goals last season.
In the second half, Norwalk kept its foot on the gas adding two more goals, including one at the 36-minute mark by Chris Puente off a feed from Ignacio Navarro.
Navarro added his own tally with just under 26 minutes remaining in the game on a cross into the box from Puente and a one-timer into the upper left corner.
Norwalk had 14 shots on goal and goalkeeper Svet Kozak turned away six St. Joseph shots.
Norwalk (1-0) hosts Danbury on Friday at 7:30 pm. while St. Joseph (0-1) hosts defending FCIAC champion Staples on Friday at 4 pm.
