Women’s Soccer Conquers Norwich, 2-0, for Best GNAC Start in Program History

EAST BOSTON – Behind early goals in each half Suffolk women's soccer defeated Norwich, 2-0, Wednesday night at James A. Sartori Stadium at East Boston Memorial Park. The victory pushed the Rams to 4-1-0 in GNAC action, which marks the best league ledger for the blue-and-gold since the program's inauguration in 2007.   

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 2 | Norwich 0
RECORDS: Suffolk (6-2-0, 4-1-0 GNAC) | Norwich (3-7-0, 2-3-0 GNAC)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Cassandra LaBarbera took the ball deep into the Cadets zone and fired a sliding cross that distracted Norwich's keeper. Kim Watt made a dive thinking the ball was going to slip right past her gloves, instead Julia Hunt found the rock and lifted it into the top left of the netting for the one-goal edge just three minutes into the action.  

Norwich saw its best opportunity on a header with just under 15 minutes remaining the first frame. Kaila Lemmer jumped above the Rams' defense and connected on a perfectly place ball, but a diving glove save by Allison Rodrigues forced a Cadets corner. Off the corner, another prime header came for the visitors, but once again Suffolk's netminder was there to keep the 1-0 lead intact for the hosts at half time.  

On a Suffolk throw in, Norwich gained possession, but not for long as Addisyn Lanza picked up the pieces of a broken ball, beat the defender for a one-on-one with Watt and capitalized on her opportunity. The junior went right when the keeper went left and easily slipped the ball into the lower right corner less than five minutes out of the intermission to add to the Rams' advantage, 2-0.  

After Lanza's strike, Suffolk saw a few more chances, but the Cadets defense backed up Watt to keep the margin at two goals.  

Norwich put pressure late in the half. Similar to Norwich's defense Suffolk's back line stood tall as well not allowing Rodrigues to see a shot for the final 14 minutes to maintain the advantage and secure the triumph.  

KEEPING UP WITH THE KEEPERS

• Rodrigues turned aside all nine shots she faced. 
• Watt made two saves in the setback.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Hunt and Lanza were responsible for Suffolk's score with LaBarbera notching the only helper on the night. 
• Norwich had the upper hand in shots, 19-11, shots on target, 9-2, and corners, 4-1.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk defeated Norwich for the 10th straight matchup to move to 10-3 in the all-time series against the Cadets. 
• The Rams blanked the Cadets for the fifth time and second straight season. 
• The cleansheet is Suffolk's fourth of the season, which marks the most shutouts in the Ashley Van Vechten era and most since posting six in the 2016 campaign. 
• Rodrigues registered her fourth shutout of the year and eighth of her career. 
• Suffolk moved to 4-1-0 in GNAC play, its best opening to a league schedule in program history. 
• Hunt is on a two-game point streak. The sophomore has scored goals in back-to-back games.
• LaBarbera recorded her first collegiate point on her first-ever assist.  

POST-GAME PIC
  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk is right back on the road Saturday, Oct. 5, but the Rams won't travel fair as they are set for a cross city, conference battle at Emmanuel. The rivalry game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.