Box Score

NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Joe Galante scored a game-high six goals, and Tyler Nicoll added four goals and one assist to lift the Norwich University men's lacrosse team to a 16-9 victory over Johnson State College Tuesday afternoon at a sunny and wind-swept Howard Field.

Michael White and Justin Pearson each netted two goals apiece for the Cadets, who have won four straight games and improve to 7-3 on the season. Jesse Mattson played a strong game for Norwich as well, posting one goal and a game-high four assists. Kyle Marzeoti chipped in one goal and one assist, while Nathaniel Davis, Nick Talcott, Tyler Woods and White each added single assists to round out the scoring for the Cadets.

Alex Petti and Steve Noyes led the way for Johnson State (1-5) offensively with three goals apiece. Erik Tillberg added one goal and two assists for the Badgers, while Billy Noyes posted one goal and one assist.

Norwich took control of the game from the outset as Marzeoti won the opening faceoff and sprinted into the Cadets' offensive zone before firing a shot past Johnson State goalkeeper Branden Sawyer. The tally, which came just 13 seconds into the contest, gave Norwich an early 1-0 lead.

Galante potted the next two goals to extend NU's advantage to 3-0, but markers by Petti and Steve Noyes helped JSC draw to within 3-2 with 7:51 to play in the opening quarter.

A man-up goal by Galante made it 4-2, and the teams traded goals in the final two minutes as Norwich led 5-3 after the first quarter.

Norwich then took over, scoring 10 unanswered goals to assume a commanding 15-3 lead midway through the third quarter. White scored two man-up goals during the second period as the Cadets outscored the Badgers 5-0 during the stanza.

Galante and Nicoll both netted two goals apiece in the first 8:11 of the third quarter as Norwich scored the first five markers of the second half.

Johnson State scored twice in the final two minutes of the third period as Billy Noyes and Petti each beat NU goalkeeper Nathan Proctor.

A man-up tally by Petti and even-strength goals by Tillberg and Steve Noyes pulled Johnson State to within 15-8 with 4:08 to play in the fourth quarter, but Galante scored his sixth goal of the contest with 3:13 remaining to stem the tide. Steve Noyes added his third marker of the game with 2:06 to play to round out the scoring.

Norwich held a commanding 49-30 edge in shots with Galante firing a game-high 16. The Cadets enjoyed a 57-40 margin in ground balls with Proctor scooping up a team-high nine.

Proctor finished with 10 saves in the victory for the Cadets. Sawyer stopped 12 shots for the Badgers in the loss.

Norwich will continue its four-game homestand on Thursday, April 15, when the Cadets host in-state rival Lyndon State College at Howard Field. The opening faceoff for the non-conference clash is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Line Score                   1st       2nd      3rd      4th       Final
Johnson State                3          0         2         4          9
Norwich                          5          5         5         1          16