Box Score NORTHFIELD, Vt. – For the third time in its last four matches the Norwich University men's soccer team needed penalty kicks to decide a winner.
For the second straight time, the Cadets lost in penalty kicks after being outscored 4-2 by Husson University and were knocked out of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) New England Tournament Quarterfinals on Wednesday at Howard Field.
Norwich (11-5-4) battled Husson (15-5-1) to 1-1 draw after 110 minutes with each team tallying a goal in the second half. Husson got on the board first when senior midfielder James Crockford placed a well struck ball off the right post and into the net from 23 yards out at the top of the 18-yard box to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead in the 54th minute. Phil Frost picked up the assist on the goal.
The Cadets turned up the pressure in search of the equalizer and finally in the 77th minute senior Colin Pope (Tunbridge, Vt.) finished off a crossing pass from junior forward Joe Young (McLean, Va.) by heading the ball into the back of the net from point blank range.
Norwich continued to build momentum throughout the rest of regulation and had a couple of golden scoring chances with junior center back Wesley Keslin (Brossard, Quebec) heading a ball off the cross bar but deflecting high and then senior midfielder Garrett Shufelt (Clifton Park, N.Y.) attempted a bicycle kick from the six-yard box that Husson goalkeeper Brian Potter was able to scoop up at the near post.
The Cadets had the better of the chances in both 10-minute overtime sessions including hitting another cross bar from inside the penalty box, as well as Anthony Amell (Northfield, Vt.) just pushing a shot wide right off a well developed buildup and a cross pass from Christian Albrecht (Albuquerque, N.M.).
In the penalty kicks, Husson converted on all four of its chances while Norwich scored on just two with Young and Mike Ravenelle (Merrimack, N.H.) converting. NU sophomore goalkeeper Christian Hallstrom (Las Vegas, Nev.) guessed right and got a body part on three of the four kicks, but he wasn't able to keep any out of the net. Frost, Zach Emeigh, Stephen Berenyi and Chris DelGiudice all converted successfully for the Eagles.
Norwich outshot Husson 28-16 for the game, including seven to two in the 20 minutes of overtime. The Cadets also earned 12 corner kicks to Husson's four. Potter made 10 saves for Husson and Hallstrom made two saves for Norwich.
Husson advances to the ECAC final four weekend where it will take on the winner of No. 1-seeded Roger Williams University or No. 8 seeded Lesley.
Norwich concludes its season having not lost a match outright since Oct. 13 for a 3-0-3 record. The Cadets were eliminated from the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament last Saturday falling to Albertus Magnus 6-5 after eight rounds of penalty kicks in the championship match.
Wednesday's match marked the final appearances in a Norwich uniform for a trio of seniors in Shufelt, Pope and Ravenelle.
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