Box Score

SOMERVILLE, Mass. - Senior forward Ryan Boyton scored two goals to help pace the Norwich University men's soccer team in a 3-0 victory over Emmanuel College in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference match Saturday afternoon.

With the victory, Norwich (14-2-1, 8-0-1 GNAC) clinches the conference's regular season title, and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming GNAC Tournament. As the top seed, the Cadets have earned the right to homefield advantage throughout the event, which begins next Saturday, Nov. 1, with a quarterfinal matchup. The Saints, meanwhile, fall to 3-10-2 (1-4-2 GNAC).

The Cadets outshot the Saints, 9-2, in the opening stanza, but the could not get on the scoreboard until the 39th minute, when Boyton tucked in his first of two goals on the afternoon. The senior was assisted by junior midfielder Bobby Begin in what held up as the game winner for the Cadets. Norwich took that 1-0 lead into the break.

Norwich notched its second goal of the game early in the second half as Boyton scored an unassisted tally in the 49th minute.

The Cadets' third goal came in the 75th minute, when sophomore defender Jon Amell came off the bench to seal the win for Norwich. Amell was assisted by senior forward Jason Bliss.

The Saints put three shots on goal in the second half, but Norwich junior goalkeeper Charles Maxwell stopped all three attempts en route to the shutout victory.

"It was a very good away performance. Emmanuel made it difficult by putting a lot of numbers behind the ball, but our players showed great patience and the goals eventually came."

"To win the GNAC regular season championship two years in a row is a great accomplishment," said Norwich head coach Kyle Dezotell. "These players have worked so hard, and while we still have unfinished business with the goal of winning the GNAC Tournament, they should be very proud of the 2008 regular season title they have earned."

Norwich returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 1, when the Cadets host a GNAC Tournament quarterfinal game at Howard Field. The opponent and kickoff time have not been determined at this time.