Norwich Nips Johnson 7-6
JOHNSON, Vt. (April 20, 2009)
In a very even played contest Norwich University held on to defeat host Johnson State College on Monday at Minaert Field by the score of 7-6. NU outshot JSC 28-26 and won the groundball battle 35-33. Johnson falls to 6-3 overall and 6-2 in the North Atlantic Conference while Norwich moves to 3-7, 0-5 in the Pilgrim Conference.
The Cadets struck first at the 7:35 mark of the first period when Patrick Sikora (East Montpelier, Vt.) scored the first of his four goals on the day. But JSC would take a 4-3 lead into the half behind a pair of goals from junior Billy Noyes (Boston, Mass./Northeast Regional) and one each from juniors Erik Tillberg (Randolph, Vt./Randolph) and Steve Noyes (Barre, Vt./Spaulding).
Norwich held the Badgers to only six shots in a scoreless third period for JSC as the Cadets surged ahead 5-4 after three behind another Sikora goal and one from Craig Van Yahres (Paoli, Penn.).
Despite fourth period goals from Steve and Billy Noyes JSC could not close the gap as Sikora’s forth goal of the day with 5:09 remaining gave the Cadets a two-goal lead and turned out to be the winning goal.
Johnson’s Brendan Sawyer (East Greenwich, R.I./Greenwich) made 12 stops in the loss while Norwich keepers Ryan Leroux (Potsdam, N.Y.) and Nathan Proctor (Pleasanton, Calif.) teamed to make 11 saves.
JSC will complete their regular-season schedule on Wednesday when they host Maine Maritime Academy at 4:00 pm. The winner of the game with claim the third seed for the NAC playoffs beginning on Saturday. Norwich will host Springfield College on Wednesday at 4:30 pm.