NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich men's lacrosse team is set to kick off the 2021 season with a home opening game against in-state rival Castleton University on Saturday at Sabine Field at 3 p.m.
SERIES HISTORY
This will be the 48th meeting between the two programs dating back to 1969 when the series opened with a 13-2 victory for the Cadets. The teams have played every year since 2002 missing just last season due to the pandemic. Norwich is 33-14 all-time against Castleton. The teams have evenly split the previous 10 contests, however, the Cadets have emerged victorious in the last four games. Only four times in the history of the matchup has the winner not scored at least 10 goals.
LAST MEETING
The teams last met on April 17, 2019, which saw the Cadets win their fourth-straight over the Spartans with a 13-5 win on the Sabine turf field. The Cadets trio of seniors Jack Anzalone, Connor Bourque, and Payden Masaracchia each contributed a pair of goals while senior goalie Nick Kandra stopped 10-of-13 shots in the first half en route to victory. Castleton's senior Maxx Ingison stopped 9-of-22 shots in net for the Spartans.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
Castleton (0-1) has returned 19 players from a team that went winless through a shortened four-game season in 2020. The Spartans lost their top goal scorer from a year ago, but bring back six of their top ten points leaders highlighted by sophomore Chris LaBonte who tallied six markers through four games. Defensively, Castleton appears to be without their top three defenders from 2020 and will rely on a relatively untested group of underclassmen. The experience of Ingison between the pipes will be a benefit to the Spartan's defensive unit.
The Spartans will arrive in Northfield after losing a tough, low-scoring affair to Plymouth St on Wednesday at home in which Castleton outshot the Panthers, 20-15. Dawson Nalette led the offense with a pair of goals, while senior Trey Lange tallied a goal and two assists. Ingison stopped 7-of-15 shots in goal.
SCOUTING THE CADETS
Norwich (0-0) is looking to make it five-straight wins against Castleton on opening night. The Cadets are just 3-7 on opening day in the past 10 seasons. The Cadets finished the shortened 2020 season with a 3-2 record. 21 players return from last year's squad, including all five of the team's top scorers and seven of the team's top 10 points leaders. Those four players each averaged over 12 points a game in what was a balanced scoring attack. Norwich will be without two of its top D-poles from 2020 and will rely on some underclassmen to step up and help defensively.
Leading the offense will be junior Parker Campbell who topped the team with 21 points and was second with 11 goals. Top scorer senior Payden Masaracchia netted 12 goals last year and fifth-year senior Russell Gilligan potted 11 goals in 2020. Senior defensive stalwart Sean Wallace will lead the defensive unit. His eight caused turnovers led the team last season. 2019 GNAC Tournament MVP and senior Nick Kandra led the team in saves in 2020 and will man the pipes in goal for the Cadets.
LIVE COVERAGE
Due to safety precautions this season, no spectators will be allowed at the athletic facilities, however, the game will be streamed on the Norwich Broadcast Network.
UP NEXT
The next countable game for Norwich will be next Saturday at the Cadets travel to New England College for a game at 1 p.m.
