NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University football team dropped its 2021 season opener, 38-0 to Salve Regina in the first-ever home night football game in program history on Friday night. 

Norwich (0-1) could not contain Salve Regina (1-0) senior running back Joey Mauriello all game as the Seahawks' all-star ball carrier rushed for 261 yards on 34 carries and two touchdowns to lead the offense. 

The Cadets' defense held tight throughout the first quarter, holding Salve Regina to just one field goal and had a goal line stand to turn back the Seahawks on their opening drive. 

Norwich took over on downs after Patrick Keefe (Andover, Mass.) and Zev Motew (Highland Park, Ill.) combined to stuff Mauriello on the 1-yard line. 

The Cadets ran two plays out of the wishbone offense to open their first drive with Rashawn Fraser (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) under center in honor of Norwich all-time coaching wins leader Barry Mynter, who passed away in May 2020. 

Salve Regina took the lead with 4:37 to go in the first quarter on a 33-yard field goal by Chris Maida. 

The Seahawks added two touchdowns in the second quarter courtesy of touchdown runs from 13 and 17 yards out to increase the Salve Regina lead to 17-0 by halftime. 

Salve Regina opened the second half with Jack Maguire hooking up with Pat Travers for a 10-yard touchdown pass to make it 24-0 Seahawks with 10:25 left in the third quarter, Marcelino LaBella caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from Maguire with 13:04 left in the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 31-0. 

The Seahawks capped the scoring with 4:52 left in the game with a 1-yard touchdown rush by Connor Welsh. 

Norwich's offense was led by Nate Parady (Saint Albans, Vt.), averaging four yards a carry on 15 rushes for 60 yards. Junior wide receiver Trevor Chase (Eliot, Maine) had six catches for 44 yards to lead the Cadets' passing game. 

Sophomore quarterback Mitchell Theal (Elma, N.Y.) was 9-for-24 passing for 63 yards. 

Motew led the Norwich defensive effort with 10 total tackles. Freshman Jeremy Henault (Goffstown, N.H.) had nine tackles and an interception in his collegiate debut. Junior Joseph Bornes (Sharpsville, Pa.) had eight tackles and three pass breakups. 

Friday night's game was the first game Norwich played in 657 days after the 2020 season was completely canceled due to COVID-19. 

Prior to the start of the game, Norwich held a moment of silence in memory of the program's all-time coaching wins leader, Barry Mynter and long-time gameday clock operator, Mary Hoppe. The Cadets also wore special "BM" helmet stickers during the game to honor Coach Mynter, who led the team to 75 wins over 16 seasons as the head coach. 

Norwich fell to 1-2 all-time vs. Salve Regina. The Cadets defeated the Seahawks 22-19 in each team's 2019 season opener down in Newport, R.I. 

Norwich will travel to St. Lawrence next Saturday, Sept. 11 for a 1 p.m. game in the Battle for the Hoffman Cup game in Canton, N.Y. The Cadets won't return home to Sabine Field at Haynes Family Stadium until Sept. 25 when they host Endicott at 2 p.m. as part of Norwich Homecoming Weekend.