New Canaan ends Bunnell's dream

The Bulldogs made a return trip to the CIAC Class L state semifinals on Wednesday. That same opponent -- New Canaan -- was all that stood between them making the first trip to a state final.

Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, it ended up being the same result. No. 23 seed New Canaan blanked No. 14 Bunnell 2-0 Wednesday night at Testa Field.

"We started 7-1, finished 9-7 (for the regular season) and now we are in the state semifinals," Bunnell coach James Ginand said. "I'm very pleased, but obviously, at the same time, to get this far and still lose, it is very disappointing. .. We still put Bunnell soccer back on the map."

The Rams (10-6-2) came into the state tournament under .500 and didn't even qualify for the eight-team FCIAC tournament. But they are currently riding a seven-game winning streak into the final against Brookfield, a team that eliminated New Canaan in the L opening round in 2007.

"I'm sure for these guys, they want some kind of revenge," said first-year New Canaan coach Victor Sanchez. "Brookfield is a very good team, a powerhouse team. It won't be an easy game whatsoever. We knew we could make a run, but we had to make sure we continued to play great soccer."

Said Ginand: "It just shows the FCIAC and the SWC (South-West Conference, which Bunnell plays in), how good a league they both are to make it to the semis being the higher seeds that we both are."

Rory Shepard had both goals in the second half for New Canaan. The first one came 4 minutes, 12 seconds into the half when he lined a shot from the far right past Bunnell goalkeeper Sebastian Tamayo into the left-hand corner. Nick Housden assisted on the play.

"Rory can shoot it from anywhere," Sanchez said. "It was fortunate the play developed the way it did."

On Shepard's other goal with 15 minutes left, Jon-Luke Ferrandino slipped him the pass on a run up the right side again and Shepard lined it to the far left side once again for the insurance goal.

Bunnell (12-9) had just four shot attempts in the second half and New Canaan goalkeeper Scott Levene only had to make one save. Behind the defense of Christian Powell, Tom Carey and Henry Richardson, along with Levene, the Rams have allowed just one goal in four Class L tournament games.

"We had a couple of opportunities but we could never get that equalizer in," Ginand said. "Momentum shifts once you get that (second goal). ... Their back four won all the head balls and they came through with a couple of very nice goals."

It took just past the midway point of the first half for Bunnell to record its first shot, taken by Isaias Montalvo and saved by Levene. The Rams outshot the Bulldogs 5-2 in the opening half.

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