NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University men's soccer team battled Dean College to a scoreless 0-0 draw Monday afternoon in a tightly contested Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) matchup at Longley Field.
The Cadets generated consistent pressure throughout the 90 minutes, finishing with a 17-5 advantage in shots and putting six attempts on target compared to just one for Dean. Norwich also controlled the corners battle, 6-3, while maintaining a clean defensive sheet.
Victor Kalorin (Raleigh, N.C.) anchored the Norwich defense in goal, playing all 90 minutes and making one save to preserve the shutout. The Cadets' defensive unit limited Dean to only five total shots and kept the hosts from generating sustained attacking pressure for much of the afternoon. Kalorin has still not given up a goal since stepping into the starting role.
Norwich created several quality opportunities in the opening half. Brian Baek (Fairfax, Va.) and Ben Rubinstein (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) each tested the Dean defense early, while Cristian Habiniak (North Branford, Conn.) added a pair of attempts during the first half.
The Cadets came closest to breaking through in the 34th minute when Daniel Hennessey (Dubai, U.A.E.) struck the crossbar with a shot, narrowly missing what would have been the game's opening goal. Norwich continued to apply pressure late in the half, earning a pair of corners before Jacob Paro (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) forced a save with a shot in the final minute of the opening period.
Norwich continued to dictate the attacking tempo after halftime, creating several more scoring chances. Shea Perkins (Carl Junction, Mo.) led the Cadets with four shots and three shots on goal, repeatedly challenging the Dean goalkeeper throughout the second half.
The Cadets' late attacking push produced several opportunities in the final 15 minutes. Miles Bergeson (Charlotte, Vt.) and Perkins each forced saves, while Rubinstein had multiple attempts turned away as Norwich continued searching for the breakthrough. The Bulldog defense would hold on by a thread and keep the game scoreless to earn a point at home.
The draw moves Norwich to 6-2-2 overall and 3-1-1 in GNAC play. The Cadets return to action Wednesday when they travel to Rivier for a rematch of last season's gut-wrenching 1-0 GNAC semifinal loss. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in Nashua, N.H.
