Two Early Goals Power Norwich Over Men’s Soccer, 3-1

NORTHFIELD, Vt. -Norwich University scored two goals over the first seven minutes of action which proved to be too much for Emmanuel College to overcome as the Cadets held on for a 3-1 men’s soccer victory in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action Wednesday evening at Sabine Field.

Two Early Goals Power Norwich Over Men’s Soccer, 3-1
Box Score

Team Stats

September 21, 2022

THE BASICS 
Emmanuel College, 1 – Norwich University, 3

Records: 
Emmanuel Saints (2-3-2, 0-2-1 GNAC)
Norwich Cadets (3-2-1, 2-1-0 GNAC)

Location: Northfield, Vt. – Sabine Field

Date: Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022

THE LEAD – Norwich University scored two goals over the first seven minutes of action which proved to be too much for Emmanuel College to overcome as the Cadets held on for a 3-1 men's soccer victory in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action Wednesday evening at Sabine Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • NU sophomore back Cullen Swett (Williston, Vt.) got the hosts into the scoring column just 5:48 into play with his second goal of the campaign to give NU the 1-0 lead. Swett was the beneficiary of some nice combination play from Dante Mancini (Hopedale, Mass.) and Joseph Thongsythavong (Salem, Mass.), who both picked up assists on the play.
  • Just a minute and 16 second later, Thongsythavong found the back of the net for his sixth goal of the year to deflate the Saints' energy and make it 2-0 in the early goings of this GNAC affair. Sophomore Mamadi Jiana (Chicopee, Mass.) set up Thongsythavong who did the heavy lifting to give the Cadets the two-goal cushion.
  • The Saints weathered the storm for the rest of the first half but had very little going offensively as Norwich owned a 7-1 advantage in shots heading into the break.
  • Jiana gave the hosts a three-goal lead in the 58th minute with an impressive unassisted goal, dribbling through the Saints backline before pulling back for a finish to the far post for his second goal of the 2022 slate to make it 3-0.
  • Emmanuel avoided the road shutout as senior Alec Erskine (Coventry, Conn.) tallied his team-leading fourth goal of the year on an unassisted strike to make it 3-1 with 26:45 to play.
  • The Saints had a flurry of chances with around 10 minutes remaining to make it a one-goal game including a shot by Erskine that hit the post but NU was able to avoid any further damage to hang on for the 3-1 GNAC win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

  • The Saints evened up the shot total in the second half as each team attempted seven shots in the stanza but NU ended the match with the 14-8 edge.
  • The Cadets also owned a dominating 10-2 advantage in corner kicks in the win.
  • Erskine's goal puts him one shy of tying the EC program record for career goals (28), currently held by Christopher Clark '08.
  • NU keeper Robert Wagenseller (Poway Calif.) earned the win making two saves while EC graduate student Vincent Conelli (West Hartford, Conn.) suffered the defeat despite a five-save outing.

UP NEXT

  • Both teams return to action on Saturday, September 24 at home as EC hosts Albertus Magnus College at 12:30 PM at Clemente Field while Norwich welcomes Lasell College for a 1:00 PM GNAC tilt.