NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University women's soccer team delivered a dominant performance Saturday afternoon, shutting out Mitchell College, 10-0, in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action at Sabine Field.
The Cadets (7-4-1, 3-4-1 GNAC) controlled the contest from start to finish, scoring five goals in each half while holding the Mariners (0-13, 0-8 GNAC) without a shot. Norwich finished with a commanding 53-0 advantage in shots, including 33 shots on goal, while earning 14 corners.
Norwich opened the scoring in the 16th minute when Melanie Winters (Montpelier, Vt.) found the back of the net off her own rebounded shot to give the Cadets a 1-0 lead. Just under three minutes later, Heidi Smith (Sammamish, Wash.) doubled the advantage off a solo run, putting Norwich in front, 2-0.
The Cadets continued to apply pressure, with Lily Briggs (Fair Haven, Vt.) extending the lead to 3-0 in the 29th minute off an assist from Amanda Doherty (Slingerlands, N.Y.). Sophie Guarriello (Barre, Vt.) added Norwich's fourth goal in the 38th minute, finishing a setup from Hope McQuade (Glastonbury, Conn.), before Colby Magoon (Loudon, N.H.) capped the first-half scoring in the 41st minute to send the Cadets into halftime with a 5-0 advantage.
Norwich carried its momentum into the second half, as Jasmine Hackman (Clear Brook, Va.) scored in the 50th minute winning a 50/50 ball against the Mariners goalkeeper to make it 6-0. Briggs struck again in the 64th minute for her second goal of the afternoon, pushing the Cadets' lead to seven.
The Cadets added two more goals in quick succession. Kelsey Crouse (Lyndeborough, N.H.) found the back of the net in the 65th minute off an assist from Sophia St. Laurent (Townsend, Mass.), before Blythe McQuade (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) scored in the 74th minute to extend the advantage to 9-0 off a gorgeous goal from 35 yards out.
Norwich completed the scoring in the 84th minute when Ryann Campbell (Milton, Vt.) converted a through ball from Magoon, sealing the 10-0 victory.
The Cadets' defense kept Mitchell from generating an offensive opportunity throughout the afternoon. Goalkeeper Sophie Olivo (Sanford, Maine) and Gracie Dempsey (Alexandria, Va.) each recorded the shutout without needing to make a save, while Norwich's defensive unit limited the Mariners to zero shots.
Briggs led the Cadets with two goals, while Magoon finished with a goal and an assist. Crouse, Campbell, Hackman, Winters, Smith, Guarriello and both McQuades also contributed to Norwich's offensive outburst.
The Cadets are back in action Wednesday at 4pm at New England College.
