LEICESTER, Mass. – In a back and forth battle with GNAC-foe Becker College on Saturday afternoon, sophomore Joe Galante netted the winning goal in the final seconds of play to push the Cadets past the Hawks, 10-9, on Becker's Alumni Field.

Galante finished the game with five points on four goals and an assist, while senior Patrick Sikora recorded a hat trick. Freshmen Marco Wiederaenders, Ian Mendoza and Ian Thomas each added a goal to the final score.

Freshman Andrew Dustin cleaned up five ground balls, as his classmate Mark Paradiso earned his first collegiate start in net, setting aside ten saves in the win.

Norwich was facing a two-goal deficit at the half with the Hawks up 6-4. Becker had put themselves on the board three minutes into the game, but the Cadets were quick to tie it up on a goal by Sikora.

The Cadets chased the Hawks again when the home team went up 2-1, as Mendoza evened the score. Becker put two more in before the second period to lead by two. Galante and Sikora both found the back of the net again in the second period to keep Norwich in a close game.

Coming into the second half, Galante and Thomas scored a goal apiece as the Hawks tallied one of their own, bringing Norwich within one point of their conference opponent.

Sikora tied the game at 7-all less than a minute into the final quarter, while Galante tallied his hat trick goal minutes later to give the Cadets the winning edge. Becker came back to even it up, but Wiederaenders put one past them to make it 9-all with four minutes remaining.

With 35 seconds left in regulation time, Wiederaenders picked up a ground ball and found Mendoza for a good clear. Galante, in front of the net, was open for the one-timer from Mendoza and with 17 seconds on the clock, the Cadets attained the final edge.

Norwich outshot Becker 38-28 and collected 25 grounders in the action. Winning 17 face-offs to the Hawks' six, their hard work paid off as the Cadets advance to 3-2 on the season and 1-0 in the GNAC.

Although the team was originally scheduled to host Daniel Webster in a conference contest on Tuesday, the game has been postponed until a later date. Norwich will face off next against Lasell College on Saturday at 1 p.m.

-CADETS-