NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Despite valiant efforts, the Norwich University men's lacrosse team could not overcome a slow first quarter in a 13-7 loss to visiting Rivier University on Sabine Field in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Tuesday afternoon.

Tyler Seidel (Centreville, Md.) paced the Cadets, matching his season-high with three goals while dishing out a helper.  Callum Jones (Burlington, Ont.), in his first game this season, ripped in a pair of goals alongside an assist.  Matt Meehan (Norfolk, Mass.) and Alex Johnston (Franklin, Tenn.) rounded out the offense with a goal each.

The Raiders kicked off the affair with three quick goals in succession in the opening three minutes, before Jones gave the Cadets some life at the 10:27 mark.  The momentum was short lived, however, as Rivier added five-straight before the buzzer to build an 8-1 edge heading into the second quarter.

Another tally by Jones out of the gates helped spur a strong team effort by the Cadets, particularly defensively, as Norwich outscored Rivier, 5-1, over the second and third frames.  Johnston and Meehan contributed their goals in this stretch, while Seidel drilled in two of his three to close both stanzas.

Rivier sprung back to life in the fourth, as Connor Eck and Coby Mercier combined for four goals to halt Norwich's advance.

Mercier controlled Rivier's offense, finishing with seven points on six goals and an assist.

The Cadets will hit the road for two straight, first traveling to Regis College on Saturday, Apr. 1 for a 2:00 p.m. bout.  A trip to Anna Maria College awaits days later on Tuesday, Apr. 4, with a 6:00 p.m. faceoff time.