Men's Soccer Falls at Home To Norwich, 5-2, Saturday Night

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's soccer team battled strong, but fell at home versus Norwich University, 5-2, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) match on Saturday night at the USJ Soccer Field in West Hartford, Conn. 

GAME INFORMATION 
Score: USJ 2, Norwich 5 
Records: USJ (8-3-2, 5-2-2 GNAC), Norwich (8-3-2, 7-2-0 GNAC) 
Location: USJ Soccer Field (West Hartford, Conn.) 

KEY MOMENTS 

• The Blue Jays wasted little time trying to find the opening goal, firing off a pair of chances inside the opening minute. Senior midfielder Elija Rowland received an excellent through ball, but his one-on-one opportunity was well stopped by Norwich's senior goalkeeper Robert Wagenseller (Poway, Calif.) The rebound fell to graduate student DeAnte Anderson (Bloomfield, Conn.) but Wagenseller once again produced an excellent reaction save. 

•  However, it would be the Cadets that struck first in the ninth minute. After the ball bounced outside of the box onto the feet of senior forward Amerle Nemeye (Burlington, Vt.), Nemeye floated a cross into the box. Senior forward Joseph Thongsythavong raced past his defender getting his head on the cross, directing it past the reach of USJ's junior goalkeeper Jose Miguel Garcia Martin (Madrid, Spain) to give Norwich the lead. 

• USJ looked to immediately respond, generating a fantastic opportunity moments later with 9:48 on the clock. Senior midfielder Michael Torres (Hartford, Conn.) would be left wide open at the back post, but his point-blank header was denied by an incredible kick save by Wagenseller. 

• The Blue Jays would try their luck again in the 14th minute, as Dane Stephens rifled a shot from a tight angle across goal, but his effort was tipped wide by Wagenseller. 

• USJ wouldn't have to wait long for their next opportunity, drawing a free kick from roughly 25 yards out at the 14:10 mark. Anderson and junior midfielder Brian Silva (Naugatuck, Conn.) stood over the ball as Stephens took the shot, with his effort firing back off Norwich's wall. 

• The Cadets looked to double their advantage in the 20th minute as Thongsythavong got on the end of another cross, but his strike this time would be well saved by Garcia Martin. 

• USJ would continue to fight back, creating another great scoring opportunity. Dane Stephens (Jamaica) whipped in a corner, finding the head of Silva, but the Blue Jays were again denied by a world class save by Wagenseller. 

• However, the Cadets would add a third as freshman midfielder Oleksandr Kharchuk looped a shot over the head of Garcia Martin from long range, extending the visitors lead to 3-0. 

• The Blue Jays continued to fight back though, being rewarded for their efforts in the 44th minute. Senior midfielder Anthony Delacruz (East Hartford, Conn.) played a long ball into the path of senior forward Benjamin Marchetti (Higganum, Conn.) drawing out Wagenseller who collied with Marchetti whoever drawing a penalty kick. Marchetti would step up to take the kick, keeping his cool and sending Wagenseller the wrong way to pull USJ back within two, 3-1. The score would hold entering the halftime break. 

• Norwich wasted little time adding onto their lead in the second half, netting a fourth in the 51st minute. From a corner kick, Nemeye whipped in a cross that found the towering head of sophomore midfielder Kam Jorgenson, giving the Cadets a 4-1 edge. 

• USJ looked to quickly equalize in the 54th minute as Silva unleashed a low-driven shot on frame, but Wagenseller recorded the save. 

• Stephens would try his luck again in the 64th minute with a long-range free kick, but his shot was denied by a diving save from Wagenseller. 

• The Blue Jays continued to pile on the pressure, scoring their second goal of the match in the 70th minute. Anderson played a beautiful pass through to senior midfielder Joel Agbetossou (Hartford, Conn.), who took a touch and fired a magnificent strike into the upper left corner, cutting the gap to 4-2. 

• USJ would continue to fight, pushing for two more goals to tie the game. In the 75th minute, Agbetossou and Marchetti would see their shots blocked by the Cadets' defense. 

• However, it would be the Cadets who put the final nail in the coffin, as Thongsythavong recorded his hat trick, scoring off his own rebound with 21 seconds left in the game. The Cadets would go on to defeat the Blue Jays, 5-2. 

QUOTABLE 

"Make no mistake about it, Norwich was a very strong opponent, but we feel really disappointed with result considering the quality opportunities we were able to create." said head coach Paul Wright. "Unfortunately, we were not ruthless enough in front of goal and defensively we made too many errors leading to goals." 

NOTES 

• Marchetti's goal was his 10th of the season. 

• The Bull Jays have converted on three of their four penalty kicks this season. 

• Agbetossou netted his fourth goal in the last four matches. 

• USJ held a slim advantage in shots over Norwich 18-17, including a 10-9 edge in shots on goal. 

• The Blue Jays also had the advantage in corner kicks, 6-1, over the Cadets. 

• Garcia Martin tallied 4 saves on the night, moving to 5-3-1 on the year. 

• Wagenseller tallied 8 saves, improving to 8-3-2 with the victory. 

• Norwich extended their lead in the all-time series to 5-0. 

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