Women's Soccer: Norwich Downs Johnson State, 3-1
NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Junior forward Nikki Szczepanski and freshman striker Brittany Casey netted first half goals to help lead the Norwich University women's soccer team past Johnson State College, 3-1, at Howard Field Wednesday afternoon.
The Cadets (2-1-0) broke on top 1-0 midway through the first half when Szczepanski corralled a loose ball near the 18-yard line and ripped a high shot towards the goal. Johnson State goalkeeper Morgan Solomon came out of the net to make a play on the ball, but it slipped through her fingers and rolled acrosse the goal line for Szczepanski's first goal of the season.
Norwich made it 2-0 later in the stanza when junior forward Karissa Doyon sent a perfectly-placed crossing pass over to Casey, who tapped the ball into the net for her first career goal at the 37:35 mark.
NU completely dominated the first half, outshooting the Badgers by a 16-0 margin. The Cadets also held a 4-0 edge in corner kicks during the opening frame.
Johnson State (2-1-0) cut its deficit to 2-1 early in the second half when Ally Bataille scored an unassisted goal at the 54:20 mark. Bataille came up with the ball 10 yards in front of the Norwich cage, but her initial shot was blocked. She regained control of the ball, however, and fired a shot past NU goalkeeper Alecia Wright to get the Badgers back in the game.
Norwich had several terrific chances to put the game away later in the second half, but the Cadets hit the crossbar three times in the stanza to keep the score at 2-1.
NU's persistence finally paid off in the 85th minute when freshman forward Bianca Bogda slid a nifty pass to senior midfielder Allison Flemming, who beat Solomon to the lower right-hand corner of the cage. It marked Flemming's first goal of the young season.
The Cadets finished the match with a commanding 37-5 edge in shots. Norwich ended the game with a 6-0 advantage in corner kicks.
Wright (2-0-0) made two saves en route to picking up her second straight win.
Norwich begins its 2009 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) schedule on Saturday, Sept. 12, when the Cadets host Johnson & Wales at Howard Field. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
