Box Score NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Sophomore Lisa Esparza
helped lead a powerful Cadets attack on Howard Field Saturday, as
the Cadets (4-3, 2-1 GNAC) earned a 4-2 win over the Wildcats of
Johnson & Wales University (3-5, 2-1 GNAC). Norwich was forced
to play a player-down after a double-yellow was handed out, but
ended up netting their final two goals in 10 vs. 11 action.
Wildcats' senior goalkeeper Jennifer
Hurley came off her line twice in the first half to
challenge an oncoming Cadet, narrowly missing the save both times.
Esparza drove in an unassisted goal in the
34th minute to put Norwich on the board, dribbling
around Hurley and finding the open net in front of her. In the
20th minute, Esparza placed a
through-ball to sophomore Brittany Casey at the
18-yard line, allowing Casey to draw Hurley off the line once again
and take advantage of the open net.
The Wildcats denied the shutout just before the end of the first
half when junior Amanda Aguiar shot an unpredictable ball at
Cadets' senior Alecia Wright, who fumbled
with the spin as the bounced into the net, ending the first frame
2-1.
The intensity reached a whole new level in the second half with
Norwich committing a foul within their zone that was called for a
penalty kick less than a minute into play. The Wildcats capitalized
on their opportunity, and Aguiar placed a shot
into the corner of the net to tie the game at 2-all.
As the play went back and forth, unnecessary fouls were
committed, leading to five yellow cards and one red card being
administered. In the 71st minute, Norwich was forced to
play a player-down when sophomore Bianca Bogda was
sent off the field having received her second yellow. Shortly after
the call, senior Sarah Reuschel scored the
eventual winning goal on an unassisted drive to the net. One minute
later, Esparza played through to
Casey for their second combo goal of the
afternoon.
With a red card handed out in the final two seconds of the game
to the Wildcats' freshman Lauren Donati,
both teams ended the game with 10 players on the field. The
Wildcats outshot Norwich 22-14, as Wright set aside nine shots on
goal and Hurley earned four saves.
The Cadets take to the road their next two games, traveling to
Simmons College on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. night-game special.
