Norwich Edges out Bucs in final Minutes

BUZZARDS BAY, Mass – After a big win against Maine Maritime last Saturday, the Bucs took on Norwich University at home on Thursday night in non-conference action. Though the Bucs erased a three-goal, second half Norwich lead in the third period, the Cadets edged out their host in the fourth quarter, winning the game 12-10.

Attacker Ben Avakian (Bourne, Mass) was responsible for 40% of the Buccaneers goals, scoring four, the game high, and adding an assist in the game. Sophomore midfielder, Alexandre Lucas (Walpole, Mass) scored two goals of his own on six shots on target. Senior captain, Ted Powers (Marshfield, Mass), Trey Guerrini (Foxborough, Mass), Spencer Jones (Hyannis, Mass) and senior captain Kenneth Parnell (Marshfield, Mass) scored a goal each for the hosts. Overall, the Bucs 10 goals came on 47 shots, 29 on target. In goal, Michael Dolan (McLean, Va) made 17 saves, allowing the 12 Norwich goals, on 29 shots faced.

Norwich senior attacker, Aidan Moulton (Danvers, Mass) led the Cadets with three goals. Junior John Jennings and sophomore Payden Masaracchia (Enola, Penn) each had multi-goal games for the Cadets with two apiece. Norwich scored their 12 goals on 29 shots on target, 50 shots overall. In goal, Ian Kriger (Burlington, Mass) made 19 saves on the 29 shots on goal, allowing the 10 goals.

A fairly even game in terms of scoring, was much of the same in other team statistical categories. Each goalie had over 15 saves. The Teams each has 23 turnovers; Maritime collected 38 ground balls to the Cadets 28. The Buccaneers edged out Norwich in Faceoffs winning 16 to the Cadets 10. This contest was also full of penalties, Norwich serving four minutes on five penalties, Maritime served nine minutes on 11 penalties, which proved to be the difference late in the game.

The scoring was opened by Maritime two minutes in to the game on a Jones goal. Masaracchia answered for Norwich five minutes later to even the score at 1-1. Norwich took a 2-1 lead with four and a half minute left in the quarter on a man up goal but, the Bucs answered with a Parnell, man up, goal with two minutes to play, sending the teams to the second quarter even at twos.

The second quarter was the most uneventful in terms of goal scoring with each team scoring a goal apiece, the first coming from Lucas with 12:13 left before the half. Moulton scored his first on a man up goal with eight minutes to play. The teams headed to the halftime break at 3-3.

A low scoring game in the first half did not remain that was in the third. Norwich scored three unanswered goals, making it four total going back to the second, to take a 6-3 lead early in the third. The three goals in the third by Norwich were all scored within 12 second of each other, two on even strength, and one on a man up opportunity. The teams traded goals, Maritime scoring two, Norwich scoring once, over the next seven minutes. In the final six minutes of the third quarter, Maritime went on a 5-1 scoring run to tie and then take the lead, 9-8, at the end of the Third with the help of a go-ahead goal scored by Powers with under a minute to play in a man down situation.

The Norwich defense held the Buc offense to just one goal in the fourth quarter with the Norwich offense scoring four to ultimately take the lead and the victory, 12-10 over Maritime.

Next up for the Bucs is a non-conference matchup with Gordon College on Saturday night at home at 7pm.