NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University men's soccer team erupted for nine goals Wednesday afternoon, coasting past VTSU-Johnson, 9-0, at Sabine Field in a non-conference tuneup match before headed back into Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play.
The Cadets improved to 5-2-1 on the season with the victory, controlling the match from the opening whistle while generating 25 shots, including 17 on target. Norwich also held a 7-3 advantage in corners and limited the visitors to just two shots, including one on frame.
Norwich wasted little time finding the back of the net. Diego Fuentes (Valencia, Spain) opened the scoring in the seventh minute, finishing off beautiful left footed ping from Miles Bergeson (Charlotte, Vt.) from beyond midfield to give the Cadets an early 1-0 advantage.
Bergeson added a goal of his own in the 28th minute off of a corner, curling it into the top left corner. The outrageous goal would double the Norwich lead before Nick DePeppe (Colorado Springs, Colo.) found the back of the net in the 33rd minute off an assist from Jacob Salisbury (Fayetteville, N.C.).
The Cadets continued to pour on the pressure late in the opening half. Brian Baek (Fairfax, Va.) scored in the 36th minute off a solo run from midfield all on his own to push the Norwich advantage to 4-0 heading into halftime comfortably.
Norwich needed just over two minutes to add to its lead after the halftime break. DePeppe struck again in the 48th minute, with Baek providing the assist from the elft flank. Less than a minute later, Cristian Habiniak (North Branford, Conn.) added another Norwich goal off an assist from Shea Perkins (Carl Junction, Mo.) to make it 6-0. Habiniak would sneak the ball into the bottom left corner calmly.
Baek completed his brace in the 53rd minute, finding the back of the net off an assist from Daniel Hennessey (Dubai, U.A.E.) on the right wing as the Cadets continued to pile on the offense, not backing donw at all. Baek finished the afternoon with two goals and an assist.
Norwich added two more goals during the final 11 minutes. Aiden Moriarty (Rowley, Mass.) scored in the 80th minute off an assist from Lucas Pereira (Attleboro, Mass.), before Pereira capped the scoring in the 86th minute off his head from a curling cross on the right wing from Sharmarke Hassan (Burlington, Vt.).
The Cadets' defense kept VTSU-Johnson off the scoreboard throughout the afternoon. Victor Kalorin (Raleigh, N.C.) started in goal and played the opening 45 minutes before Patrick Thompson (Epping, N.H.) took over for the second half. Thompson made one save in the second half as Norwich recorded its second consecutive shutout.
DePeppe finished with two goals, while Baek added two goals and an assist. Pereira recorded a goal and an assist, while Fuentes, Bergeson, Habiniak and Moriarty each found the back of the net once.
The Cadets return to action Saturday at 4 p.m. when they welcome Lasell to Sabine Field following Wednesday's dominant non-conference performance.
