Box Score
Video Highlights by Tanner Acebo, NU Sports Information
NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Sophomore forward Jacob Zimmerman (Litchfield, N.H.) scored twice and senior goalkeeper Christian Hallstrom (Las Vegas, Nev.) made five saves to lead the Norwich University men's soccer team to a 3-0 shutout victory over Plymouth State on Tuesday night on Sabine Field at Haynes Family Stadium.
Zimmerman extended his scoring streak to six straight games with his ninth and 10th goals of the season to give Norwich (7-3-1, 2-0-1 GNAC) all the offense it would need to earn its fifth straight win. Sophomore midfielder Moab Schiers (South Weber, Utah) scored his fourth penalty kick goal of the season with 10 seconds to cap the scoring.
After a scoreless first half, Norwich got two quick strikes early in the second half just 4:30 apart from Zimmerman to seize control of the match.
Zimmerman broke the draw in the 49th minute by burying his own rebound off his initial shot to give Norwich the only lead it would need. Zimmerman ran down a crossing pass from the right by Alec Brigante (Colchester, Vt.) and was initially stuffed by Plymouth State goalkeeper Daniel Marsh. Zimmerman was first to the rebound though and slid the ball into a wide open net to give the Cadets a 1-0 lead.
In the 54th minute, Zimmerman scored again, this time burying a shot from the top of the 18 off a crossing pass from the end line by Brigante. Zimmerman struck a hard low shot to become the first Norwich player to reach double digits in goals since 2008. The assist was Brigante's fifth of the season, which tied him for the team lead with sophomore DJ Spears (San Antonio, Texas).
Hallstrom made six saves to earn his third shutout of the season. The reigning GNAC Goalkeeper of the Week made a game-saving stop early in the second half to rob Plymouth State's Graham Hughes at point blank range to keep it scoreless. Plymouth State (2-6-1, 1-0-1 Little East) sent a crossing pass in from the right wing that hopped over the foot of a NU defender and right to Hughes who was coming in from the left.
Hallstrom came off the line though to cut down the angle and deflected Hughes one-touch shot away from the goal for his biggest save of the game.
Plymouth State narrowly outshot Norwich 17-16 and had 6 corner kicks to Norwich's five. Marsh made three saves for Plymouth State in the loss.
Norwich picked up just its second victory all-time against Plymouth State and its first since 1985. Plymouth State beat Norwich 2-0 last year in Plymouth. The Panthers lead the all-time series 10-2-1.
Norwich improved to 15-1-1 all-time on Sabine Field at Haynes Family Stadium. The Cadets are next in action on Saturday, Oct. 4 when they host Anna Maria at 3:30 p.m. in another GNAC contest.
