Box Score NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Junior goalkeeper Brendan Germano (Monroe Township, N.J.) made 15 saves to help the Norwich University men's soccer team salvage a 1-1 tie with Castleton University on Tuesday night in non-conference action on Sabine Field at Haynes Family Stadium.
Germano's 15 saves shattered his previous single-game best of eight saves and also is the most stops by a Norwich (3-3-3, 2-0-2 GNAC) keeper in over a decade.
Junior defender Chris Clain (Proctor, Vt.) also tallied his first collegiate goal with a laser from 20 yards out into the top of the net to give NU a 1-0 lead just 8:02 into the game. Junior Matt Hilton (Colorado Springs, Colo.) picked up the assist on the goal after playing the ball over to the top of the 18 from the left wing.
Norwich held the lead for over 64 minutes, but Castleton (3-5-2, 2-0-1 NAC) finally leveled in the 73rd minute with a laser strike from 30 yards out by Thomas Kirk that Germano got a piece of with his glove, but couldn't get enough to turn it away.
Castleton had been pressing for a majority of the second half with numerous chances prior to scoring, Germano made eight saves in the second 45 minutes alone to thwart the Spartan attack. Castleton outshot Norwich 16-8 in the second half and 29-19 for the game.
Castleton nearly won the game with 11 seconds left but Germano stuffed Fidele Rutayisire after coming off his line to cut down the angle and made a kick save to keep the score at 1-1.
Both teams had a few chances in overtime with Ransford Ahenkora (Bronx, N.Y.) having the best chance for NU and Seraphin Iradukunda having the best shot for Castleton. However, both attempts were saved by the respective keepers.
Castleton's Aaron Parker made eight saves for the Spartans as the two teams tied for the seventh time in their 46 meetings all-time. Castleton holds a 20-19-7 advantage in the series that dates all the way back to 1959.
NU senior Camilo Estrada (Pawtucket, R.I.) paced the Cadets with five shots.
Norwich travels to Johnson & Wales on Saturday for a huge GNAC contest in a rematch of last year's semifinal matchup that NU won 2-0 in Northfield, Vt. The Wildcats are 7-1 so far this season.
