Box Score NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University men's soccer team closed the 2017 regular season with an impressive 8-0 victory over Johnson State College on Monday night in non-conference action on Sabine Field at Haynes Family Stadium.
Senior Ransford Ahenkora (Bronx, N.Y.) tallied his first collegiate hat trick to lead the Cadets' offense in the victory in their final tune-up before the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament. Norwich (9-3-5, 6-0-4 GNAC) has scored 29 goals in its last six games after scoring just 14 in its first 11.
Sophomore Luke Gleadle (Gilbert, Ariz.) added two more goals to continue his recent hot streak. Senior Camilo Estrada (Pawtucket, R.I.) had a goal and two assists for four points, while freshman Staige Davis (Shelburne, Vt.) had a goal and an assist. Senior Colin Lozito (Wilmington, Vt.) added two assists, while junior Chris Clain (Proctor, Vt.) notched a goal as well to round out the Cadets' offensive leaders.
Ahenkora netted his hat trick in a span of just over 10 minutes late in the second half to punctuate the victory for Norwich. Freshman Amodi Ndukwe (Sugarland, Texas) picked up his first collegiate point, notching an assist on Ahenkora's first goal of the night and third of the season. He scored his second two just 34 seconds apart in the 88th minute with the second coming off an assist from Matt Bento (Brookfield, Conn.).
Gleadle scored the first two goals of the game for his team-leading ninth and 10th goals of the season in the 12th and 23rd minute respectively. Both goals were assisted by Lozito and Estrada.
Estrada made it 3-0 in the 34th minute with a goal off an assist from Davis. Davis then started the scoring in the second half with his fourth goal of the year in the 50th minute.
Clain scored on a header for his fourth goal of the year off a corner kick service from Carlos Guerra (Mission, Texas) to make it 5-0 in the 78th minute.
Johnson State's best chance to score came in the 69th minute as Norwich was whistled for a foul in the box, resulting in a penalty kick. However, Rob Buonnano's attempt sailed high and over the cross bar.
Norwich outshot Johnson State 42-3 in the game. Brendan Germano (Monroe Township, N.J.) picked up the victory to improve to 9-3-5 on the year. He was unchallenged in the first half. Ryan Fitzpatrick (Millbury, Mass.) came on to play the second half and turned aside one shot to preserve the team shutout.
Norwich opens its quest for its fifth GNAC Tournament title when it hosts Emmanuel College on Sunday, Oct. 29 at 1 p.m. on Sabine Field at Haynes Family Stadium in the GNAC Quarterfinals.
