WORCESTER, Mass.- After a three game, non-conference homestand to open the season, the Norwich football team hit the road for the first time this season when they opened New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play Saturday afternoon against WPI.

It was a defensive stalemate through the first quarter with both sides struggling to move the ball. On the first play of the second quarter, the Engineers connected on a 46-yard touchdown on fourth down to take the lead. Just before the two-minute timeout, WPI added to their lead to go up by two scores at the half.

The defensive struggle continued into the second half, as neither team could sustain a drive longer than three plays until late in the frame. In the fourth quarter, Norwich got the ball at the WPI 42 with just under six minutes left. On 12 plays, they would work their way to the goal line, but were stuffed on the doorstep as the Engineers would preserve their 14-0 victory.

In the stat column offensively, Jehric Hackney (Jericho, Vt.) rushed for 77 yards on the day, while Will Thornton (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) hauled in seven receptions for 49 yards. Defensively, Corey Stone (Piscataway, N.J.) and Shayne Leddy (Spring Lake, N.J.) tied for the team lead in tackles with ten each, with Leddy notching one of four tackles for loss with AJ Aldrich (White River Junction, Vt.) tallying a sack and forcing a fumble.

The Cadets will return to Sabine Field on Saturday Oct. 5 when they host Maritime College at 1 PM during Parents and Family Weekend.