NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The midfield combination of sophomore Grace Fitzpatrick (Falmouth, Maine) and senior Kacey Abbriano (Hicksville, N.Y.) guided Norwich University to a Great Northeast Athletic Conference win April 22.

Fitzpatrick netted five goals, recording her ninth consecutive multiple-goal contest, and Abbriano earned her 22^nd straight multiple-goal contest with four goals. The combo's nine scores accounted for better than half of NU's total in a 15-3 win over Emerson. Fitzpatrick didn't wait long to ignite a 10-goal first half run by the Cadets (11-0, 9-0 GNAC) by getting a hold of the opening draw control, splitting the Emerson defense and  sending a shot past Lions' net minder Emily Saeger 36 seconds in. She added another later in the frame, while Abbriano contributed three of her four-goal total in the first half.

Emerson (7-6, 6-3 GNAC) rallied briefly in the second half, scoring two of the first three goals to make it 11-3 with 23:29 to play. A successful free position attempt off the stick of Abbriano with 13:22 left turned the tide back to Coach Beth VanParys' squad which closed the game with four straight goals.

Norwich held a 41-13 shots advantage which was topped by 10 attempts from senior midfielder Mollie Fitzpatrick (Falmouth, Maine). The Cadets also picked up 26 ground balls and caused 13 Emerson turnovers. Grace Fitzpatrick's seven ground balls and senior Lori Baldassara's (Manchester, N.H.) three caused turnovers were first in each category.

Emerson's offense was led by a goal apiece from sophomore attackers Kanika Misra and Mackenzie Johnson and junior midfielder Tracie Lombardo. Saeger also highlighted the day for the visitors with 16 saves in net.

The two sides open 2012 GNAC postseason tournament action Tuesday, April 24. The top-seeded Maroon and Gold welcome eighth-seeded Emmanuel College of Massachusetts to Howard Field for a 4 p.m. quarterfinal, while the third-seeded Lions face sixth-seeded Mount Ida at 7 p.m. at Rotch Field in Boston, Mass.

NOTES – Abbriano's 22nd straight multiple-goal contest moved her to just four goals shy of 200 for her career and helped her reach the 50-goal season mark for the third time. … Senior goalkeeper Meghan Kennedy (Lowell, Mass.) added to a strong individual skein of her own, registering her 16^th straight win. … Norwich added to its league and Howard Field win streaks with the decision. NU has now claimed 26 consecutive league wins and 16 straight home victories.