WINTHROP, MASS. – Following a season that saw the Norwich University men's soccer team return to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship match, the Cadets had two players recognized for their performances throughout the 2026 campaign, as Miles Bergeson (Charlotte, Vt.) and Diego Fuentes (Valencia, Spain) were named to the GNAC All-Conference Second Team. Nick DePeppe (Colorado Springs, Colo.) also earned All-Sportsmanship Honors for his fantastic season as team captain for the Cadets.
The recognition highlights the impact all three players made throughout the season, helping Norwich build one of the conference's most productive attacks while playing important roles in the Cadets' postseason run. Bergeson and Fuentes combined for nine goals and seven assists while delivering in key moments as Norwich advanced from the No. 7 seed to the GNAC Championship.
DePeppe contributed as a captain wearing the armband all year and contributing 4 goals and 1 assist. Wearing the armband is no easy task and DePeppe wore it with pride and exceptional leadership. He played a critical role in the Cadets Championship run as a 7 seed.
Fuentes, a senior, finished the season among Norwich's leading offensive producers, recording five goals and four assists for a team-high 14 points. His ability to create opportunities for himself and his teammates made him a central part of the Cadets' attack throughout the year. Fuentes also delivered a game-winning performance against Vermont State University Johnson on Sept. 30, scoring the opening goal in Norwich's 9-0 victory.
Bergeson, meanwhile, established himself as a consistent presence in the Cadets' attack, finishing the season with four goals and three assists for 11 points. The sophomore's contributions extended beyond the scoresheet, as he provided an important attacking option throughout the campaign and delivered in some of Norwich's biggest moments. His game-winning goal came on Sept. 19 at Elms College, where he found the back of the net for the lone goal in a 1-0 Norwich victory.
Both players carried their contributions into the postseason, helping Norwich navigate a challenging path through the GNAC Tournament. Entering as the No. 7 seed, the Cadets opened their championship pursuit on the road against No. 2 Albertus Magnus on Oct. 31. After falling behind in the first half, Norwich found an equalizer in the 63rd minute when Cristian Habiniak (North Branford, Conn.) finished a setup from Daniel Hennessey (Dubai, U.A.E.) to even the score at 1-1.
With neither team able to find a winner through regulation or two overtime periods, the quarterfinal advanced to a penalty shootout. Bergeson and Fuentes were among the six Cadets to convert from the spot, helping Norwich secure a dramatic 7-6 shootout victory. Freshman Alejandro Pena (Annapolis, Md.) ultimately delivered the decisive penalty, sending Norwich into the GNAC Semifinals for the second consecutive season.
The Cadets continued their postseason run on Nov. 4, earning a convincing 4-1 victory over Rivier University in the semifinal round. The result carried additional significance, as Norwich avenged a 1-0 semifinal loss to the Raiders from the 2025 postseason. Bergeson opened the scoring in the 15th minute, rising to meet a corner kick from Alessandro D'Arena (Berlin, Conn.) and directing a header into the back of the net. The Cadets added three more goals to secure their place in the conference championship for the first time since 2023.
Norwich's postseason journey concluded in the GNAC Championship against Saint Joseph's College of Maine on Nov. 7. Although the Cadets fell short of the conference title, their run from the No. 7 seed to the championship match represented another significant step forward for the program under Head Coach Rob Emmett.
The team's postseason success was also reflected in the GNAC All-Tournament Team selections, with Bergeson, Habiniak, and goalkeeper Victor Kalorin (Raleigh, N.C.) earning recognition. Habiniak's equalizer against Albertus Magnus and his contributions throughout the tournament helped Norwich advance, while Kalorin provided a steady presence in goal during both postseason victories. The junior goalkeeper recorded seven saves in each of Norwich's two GNAC Tournament wins, helping the Cadets reach the championship stage.
The three All-Tournament selections, along with the Second Team All-GNAC honors for Bergeson and Fuentes and the All-Sportsmanship honor for DePeppe, recognize a group that played an important role in one of Norwich's most memorable seasons in recent years. After consecutive semifinal appearances, the Cadets took another step forward in 2026, returning to the GNAC Championship match and continuing the program's progress toward the top of the conference.
