NEW LONDON, N.H. - The Norwich University women's lacrosse team secured their biggest win of the season, staging a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback to defeat Colby-Sawyer College, 10-9, in a pivotal Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) North Division match-up on Tuesday evening.

The victory extends Norwich's remarkable winning streak to nine games, as the Cadets improve to 11-1 overall and remain perfect in GNAC play at 7-0.

Five different Cadets found the back of the net, with Caitlyn Fielder (East Calais, Vt.) leading the way with a dominant five-goal performance.  Breanna Ricker (Laconia, N.H.) chipped in two goals, while Quinn Mustone (Medford, Mass.), Athena Merck (West Yarmouth, Mass.), and Ellie Moriarty (Stowe, Vt.) each added a goal.  Mustone and Merck also registered an assist apiece.

The game opened with an early strike from Colby-Sawyer just over a minute in, but Norwich responded swiftly as Fielder and Mustone tallied back-to-back goals to give the Cadets a 2-1 edge.  After the Chargers momentarily pulled even, Merck's unassisted tally put Norwich back in front, 3-2.

However, Colby-Sawyer seized control of the second quarter, rattling off five consecutive goals to take a commanding 7-3 lead.  Fielder momentarily stopped the run with her second goal of the game, but the Chargers struck again before halftime to carry an 8-4 advantage into the break.

Norwich came out of the locker room determined to shift momentum, locking down defensively in the third quarter.  A man-up goal from Fielder followed by a score from Moriarty completed a 2-0 frame for the Cadets, cutting the deficit to 8-6 entering the final 15 minutes.  Colby-Sawyer struck first in the fourth stanza to push the lead to three, but Norwich refused to back down.

Ricker ignited the comeback with a goal off a feed from Mustone, before Fielder struck again just under a minute later to make it a one-goal game.  With under five minutes remaining, Fielder completed her outstanding night with the game-tying goal, setting up a dramatic finish.  Less than a minute later, Ricker delivered the game-winner, burying a pass from Merck to complete Norwich's four-goal rally.

After Norwich took its 10-9 lead with 4:15 remaining, the Cadets' defense refused to let Colby-Sawyer find an equalizer.  Ricker, Celine Juneau (Chazy, N.Y.), and Fielder each forced crucial turnovers in the final minutes, disrupting the Chargers' offensive sets.  With time winding down, Colby-Sawyer had one final possession to force overtime, but Fielder delivered the game-sealing caused turnover to preserve the Norwich victory.

Defensively, the Cadets were relentless.  Ricker led all players with five ground balls and five caused turnovers, while Julia Proto (Orange, Conn.) was also a disruptive force with four ground balls and four caused turnovers.  Fielder showcased her all-around impact with six draw controls, three caused turnovers, and a ground ball, while also converting one of her two free-position attempts.  Mustone was also perfect on her lone free-position shot.

Goalkeeper Bailey Manning-Ingala (West Hartford, Conn.) stood tall in net, playing all 60 minutes and earning her eighth victory of the season.  She recorded nine saves, keeping the Cadets within striking distance during the first half before shutting the door down the stretch.  Manning-Ingala also added a ground ball and a caused turnover, anchoring a Norwich defense when it mattered most.

Norwich outshot Colby-Sawyer, 24-22, while limiting the Chargers to 12 successful clears.  The Cadets also held a slight edge in ground balls, 21-20, and made the mot of their free-position opportunities, going 2-for-5 while holding the Chargers to 0-for-5.

Riding the second-longest winning streak in program history, Norwich returns home for back-to-back games on Sabine Field.  The Cadets will host Anna Maria College for Senior Day on Saturday, Apr. 12, at 11:00 a.m., before another crucial GNAC North showdown against Saint Joseph's College of Maine on Wednesday, Apr. 16, at 5:00 p.m.