NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University men's lacrosse team gave Emmanuel College all it could handle Saturday afternoon, but the Cadets came up just short in a tough 8-4 setback to the Saints in Great Northeast Athletic Conference contest at Sabine Field.

With the loss, Norwich falls to 2-1 in league play and 5-2 on the year, while Emmanuel improves to 3-0 in the GNAC and 5-4 overall.

Norwich's Ian Kennedy would score late in the third period to make it 5-3 but Emmanuel sparked a scoring outburst in the third to make it a four-point game for the win.

The Saints opened the first half by scoring three straight goals, two on man-up opportunities, before freshman attackman Jared Thompson (Linthicum, Md.) found the back of the net on a feed from Seth Fuller (Wheaton, Ill.) to put the Cadets on the board at the 10:54 mark of the second period. Seven minutes later, the Cadets would find the cage as senior midfielder C.J. Dolan (East Sandwich, Mass.) dodged around the Saints' defender and scored unassisted to make it a one-point game, 3-2. The Saints would add their fourth point on the board on an unassisted goal from junior midfielder Michael Rogers (New Haven, Conn.) for the 4-2 score at intermission.

After the break, a late penalty forced Norwich to start the second half man-down as the Saints quickly used that to their  advantage with junior midfielder Chris Curtis (Ashland, Mass.) finding Rogers open on the left side of the Cadets' goal for the easy chip in to extend the lead at 5-2.

Norwich would respond three minutes later as freshman attackman Ian Kenney (Gloucester, Mass.) would scoop up a loose ball, wrap around the crease and put the ball into the back of the net to give the Cadets some life. Emmanuel would diminish those chances, scoring back-to-back goals in a span of three minutes to make it 7-3 before the third period closed with a Cadet goal from Fuller for the 7-4 score.

Norwich looked to rally from behind in the fourth period, pulling off seven shots in the frame, but none of them would find the net as the Saints scored its eighth goal of the game at the 7:01 mark and held on for the final decision.

Senior Ryan Fecteau (Danvers, Mass.) would start in between the pipes and turned away six shots before splitting time with sophomore Chris Gersh (Hudson, N.H) filling in the second half with a save on five shots for Norwich. Emmanuel's Austin Lauzier (Bedford, N.H.) would pick up his fifth win of the season after posting seven saves on 11 shots.

Norwich had a slight advantage on ground balls, out hustling Emmanuel 38-35 but the 33 turnovers and 0-7 man-up opportunities would hurt would the Cadets' chances of converting points on the board.

Norwich will hit the road on Tuesday, March 31 as the Cadets travel to Newton, Mass. to take on Mount Ida College in GNAC play for the 4:00 p.m. contest.