SAINTS SUFFER FIRST GNAC LOSS IN DOUBLE OT AT NORWICH

NORTHFIELD, Vt. - The Emmanuel College Men's Soccer team suffered its first loss in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play as Norwich University defeated the Saints 2-1 in double overtime in Northfield, Vt. on Saturday Oct. 3.

A goal by senior Zach Garcia (Yuma, Az.) in the 104th minute of play pushed the Cadets to the double overtime victory despite only putting four shots on goal in the entire game.

In a game that was littered with fouls and yellow cards, the Saints scored the only goal of the first half when junior Jordan Maurer (Florence, Mass.) scored his second goal of the season in the 34th minute. Senior captain Cian O'Sullivan (Agawam, Mass.) and senior Kurt Pruner (Rochester, N.Y.) earned assists on the goal.

Norwich outshot the Saints 9-6, but only put one on goal compared to three from Emmanuel. 

The second half belonged to the Cadets, as they outshot the Saints 11-6, earned all four corners of the frame, and eventually evened the score in the 51st minute. Junior Jacob Zimmerman (Litchfield, N.H.) beat Emmanuel senior goalkeeper James Withers (East Taunton, Mass.) after a feed from junior Alec Brigante (Colchester, Vt.).

In 14 minutes of overtime, the teams combined for just one shot on goal and it came off the foot of Garcia and found the back of the net to send the home team off with the win.

In total, Norwich outshot the Saints 23-13, but Emmanuel had seven shots on goal compared to six for the Cadets. Senior captain David Field (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) and junior Colin O'Donnell (Killingworth, Conn.) each had three shots on goal for the Saints.

The hosts earned eight of the game's nine corner kicks and were flagged for ten fouls, including a yellow card against Zimmerman in the 88th minute.The Saints were flagged for 11 fouls, five coming with yellow cards (O'Donnell, Cullen Schultz, Jeff Allen, Field, & Withers)

Withers made four saves in the loss and sees his record fall to 4-4. The Saints fall to 4-6 overall and 3-1 in the GNAC. Norwich freshman keeper Stefan Skoff (San Jose, Calif.) made six saves in his sixth win as he and the Cadets improve to 6-3-1 overall and 3-1 in GNAC play.

Next up for the Saints is a non-confernce matchup with Daniel Webster College on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at Clemente Field at 7 p.m. The Cadets will host Lyndon State on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m.