(Photo courtesy David Orrick, Norwich University)

NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University men's rugby team won its third straight match with a dominant 64-5 win over the University of New Hampshire on Saturday at the NU Dog River Rugby Pitch.

The Cadets (3-1, 2-0 NECRC) raced out to a 45-0 lead by halftime to stay unbeaten on the season in New England Collegiate Rugby Conference action.

Senior second row Gianni Miceli (Burlington, Vt.) notched three tries to lead the Norwich offense with a hat trick while senior #8 Matt Maloney (South Boston, Mass.) add two more tries for the Cadets.

Senior flyhalf Chris Hein (Baltimore, Md.) scored Norwich's first try in the second minute of the match to jumpstart the Cadets' offense that would go on to add six more tries in the first half.

Miceli added his first try of the match two minutes later to give the Cadets a 12-0 lead. Senior flanker Chad Thornton (Proctor, Vt.) made it 19-0 with a try in the 10^th minute capped by a successful conversion kick from Long Ding (Qin Dao, China).

Maloney tacked on his first try of the match in the 22^nd minute and then Miceli closed the half with two more tries coming in the 26^th and 38^th minutes to complete his trifecta.

Maloney started off the second half with his second try in the 49^th minute and then junior prop Colin Bleem (Metheun, Mass.) and senior center/flanker Josh Nowak (Arlington, Mass.) capped the NU scoring with tries in the 56^th and 61^st minutes.

Norwich looks to extend its winning streak and stay unbeaten in league play next Saturday when the Cadets host the University of Rhode Island at 2 p.m. at the NU Dog River Rugby Pitch as a part of NU Parents Weekend 2012.

Quick Box Score:
Norwich: 64
UNH: 5
Halftime: 45-0 Norwich

1^st Half scoring:

2^nd (Hein) Ding successful kick – 7-0 Norwich
4^th (Miceli) – 12-0 Norwich
10^th (Thornton) Ding successful kick – 19-0 Norwich
12^th (Nowak) Ding successful kick – 26-0 Norwich
22^nd (Maloney) – 31-0 Norwich
26^th (Miceli) – 38-0 Norwich
38^th (Miceli) – 45-0 Norwich

2^nd Half scoring:

49^th (Maloney) Ding successful kick – 52-0 Norwich
56^th (Bleem) – 57-0 Norwich
59^th (UNH try) – 57-5 Norwich
61^st (Nowak) Hein successful kick – 64-5 Norwich

Conversions – Ding (Norwich) 6-for-9
Hein (Norwich) 1-for-1
UNH 0-for-1

-CADETS-