SENIORS HONORED IN FINAL HOME GAME
Oct. 25, 2008
SOMERVILLE, Mass. - A pair of goals from senior forward Ryan Boyton (Dunedin, Fla.) helped pace the Norwich University men's soccer team to a 3-0 victory over Emmanuel College on Saturday afternoon. The Saints, who were hosting their final home game of the season, fell to 3-10-2 on the season and 1-3-2 in GNAC play. Norwich, the top-ranked team in the conference, continued their unbeaten streak in GNAC play, improving to 14-2-1 overall and 8-0-1 in the league.
The Saints hung tough for the majority of the first half, despite being outshot, 9-2, in the opening stanza. The Cadets put their first marker on the board in the 39th minute, when Boyton tucked in his first of two goals on the afternoon. The senior was assisted by junior midfield Bobby Begin (Hardwick, Mass.) in what held up to be the game-winner for the Cadets. Norwich took a 1-0 lead into the break.
Norwch quickly notched its second goal of the game just three and a half minutes into the second half, when Boyton scored unassisted in his second of a pair of goals on the day. The Saints put three shots on goal in the second half, but Norwich's junior keeper Charles Maxwell (Rochester, N.Y.) stopped all three Saint attempts.
The Cadets' third and final score of the contest came in the 75th minute, when sophomore defender Jon Amell (Northfield, Vt.) came off the bench to seal the win for Norwich. Amell was assisted by senior forward Jason Bliss (St. Albans, Vt.), giving Norwich a 3-0 lead and the win.
Emmanuel's senior keeper Jeffrey Boughton (Chandler, Ariz.) stopped six of the Cadets' nine shots on goal. Boughton, along with classmates Ken Bell (East Greenwich, R.I.), Cameron O'Hala (Bristol, Conn.), and Christopher Crowe (Boxford, Mass.) were honored prior to the start of the game, as it was the last home contest for the four seniors on the Emmanuel squad.
Norwich completed its regular season with the shut-out over the Saints. The Cadets will enter the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Tournament seeded first and will host a quarterfinal match next week. Emmanuel will play one final regular season game. The Saints travel to Newton, Mass. on Tuesday afternoon to take on the Mustangs of Mount Ida College in a 3:30pm start. Emmanuel's post-season tournament hopes are hinged on a win in Tuesday's final GNAC match.