Norwich upsets top-seed Lasell, 2-1; Advances to GNAC Finals

BOSTON, Mass. – For the second straight year the Norwich University men's soccer team upset the No. 1 seed in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament as the fourth-seeded Cadets downed Lasell 2-1 on Wednesday in the GNAC semifinal round at Boston University's Nickerson Field.

Senior Garrett Shufelt (Clifton Park, N.Y.) scored what would prove to be the game-winning goal in the 68^th minute to briefly give Norwich (11-5-2) a 2-0 lead. Shufelt chased down a long kick by sophomore Greg Payne (State College, Pa.) that bounced high off the turf and over the Lasell defense. Shufelt outraced Lasell's Adam Luciano and then flipped the ball over the Lasers' goalkeeper Miguel Colmenares as he came out to challenge the ball and it rolled into a wide open net for his fourth goal of the year.

After a scoreless first half, junior co-captain Ryan Campbell (Damascus, Md.) got the Cadets on the board in the 49^th minute by finishing off a loose ball in the box off a corner kick service from sophomore midfielder Chris Bristol (Clinton, Conn.).

Bristol sent a ball into the box from the left that Colmenares got a hand on to try and punch away. However, he only got a piece of it and the ball deflected right to Campbell who promptly hit a hard low strike with his left foot that found its way through traffic in front and into the right corner of the net. The goal was Campbell's sixth of the season to tie him for the team lead with junior Anthony Amell (Northfield, Vt.).

Lasell (15-4-0) cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 72^nd minute when Brennan Adams made a great run on the left side of the field to beat the Norwich defense, he then centered the ball to Kyle Cronin who tapped the ball home for his sixth goal of the season.

Lasell outshot Norwich 20-13 but the Cadets had eight shots on goal to the Lasers' four. Lasell had 10 corner kicks to Norwich's six.

Payne made three saves for Norwich to pick up his sixth victory of the season. Colmenares turned aside six shots and was saddled with the loss for Lasell.

With the victory, Norwich avenged a 5-1 loss to Lasell earlier this season on Sept. 19. The Cadets now advance to the GNAC Championship for the second straight season where they'll take on No. 2 Albertus Magnus on Saturday at a time to be determined.

Norwich beat Albertus Magnus last season in the GNAC semifinals 1-0 to knock off the top-seeded Falcons before falling to Saint Joseph's (Maine) 4-1 in the championship. The two teams battled to a 110-minute scoreless draw earlier this season at Albertus Magnus. The two teams have ended each other's seasons for the last two years as Albertus Magnus beat Norwich 4-0 in the GNAC semifinals in 2010.

The Cadets will be looking to win their fifth GNAC title and their first since 2008.

*Release courtesy of Norwich University Sports Information Dept.