JWU Returns to Top As 2023 GNAC Men’s Soccer Champion

GNAC MEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

Release courtesy of the Johnson & Wales Athletic Communications Department.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Senior Mike Hernandez broke a scoreless tie with his second goal of the season at 63:55 to give the Johnson & Wales a 1-0 win over Norwich in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship match Saturday afternoon at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletic Complex.

The win gives the Wildcats their first conference title since 2019, when they defeated Saint Joseph's (Maine). Head coach David Kulik, meanwhile, moves to 5-2 all-time in the GNAC Championship and 4-2 against the Cadets in the conference playoffs.

Hernandez – who added an insurance marker with 1:46 remaining in the second half – was named to the All-Tournament Team, along with graduate students Aidan Bagley, Alexander Pane, and junior Nolan Sooy. Graduate student Jonathan Baker was named Tournament MVP.

Junior Conner Elliott had the best scoring chance of the first half when, after his way around a defender, left go of a shot that struck the right post. JWU closed the first half with a 6-1 edge in shots.

The Wildcats finally broke through in the second half when Hernandez headed a loose ball into the left corner of the net. Then, with time winding down in the second half, Hernandez drilled a shot from the right side of the box into the far left corner.
 
Graduate student Jacob Friedman did not record a save in moving to 14-2-4.

The Wildcats will find out on Monday where they are headed for the NCAA Tournament.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Aidan Bagley, Johnson & Wales
Mike Hernandez, Johnson & Wales
Alexander Pane, Johnson & Wales
Nolan Sooy, Johnson & Wales
Kyle Dunn, Norwich
Aidan Dwyer, Norwich
Oleksandr Kharchuk, Norwich
Rion Dos Santos, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Griffin Forbes, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Nicholas Simpson, University of Saint Joseph (Conn.)
Michael Torres, University of Saint Joseph (Conn.)

MVP - Jonathan Baker, Johnson & Wales

2023 GNAC Men's Soccer Tournament Schedule

Play-In – Thursday, Oct. 26
(Hosted by higher seeds)

#7 New England College def. #10 Lasell, 3-0 | BOX
#8 Regis def. #9 Emmanuel, 2-1 | BOX

Quarterfinals – Saturday, Oct. 28
(Hosted by higher seeds)

#1 Saint Joseph's (Maine) def. #8 Regis, 3-0 | BOX
#2 Johnson & Wales def. #7 New England College, 2-0 | BOX
#3 University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) def. #6 Dean, 3-1 | BOX
#5 Norwich def. #4 Albertus Magnus, 3-2 | BOX

Semifinals – Tuesday, Oct. 31
(Hosted by higher seeds)

#5 Norwich def. #1 Saint Joseph's (Maine), 1-0 | BOX
#2 Johnson & Wales def. #3 University of Saint Joseph (Conn.), 1-0 | BOX

Championship – Saturday, Nov. 4

#2 Johnson & Wales def. #5 Norwich, 2-0 | BOX

ABOUT THE GREAT NORTHEAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 16 member institutions and over 4000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 22 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.

Stay up to date with all the latest news from the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC)!
'Follow' us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram, and 'Like' us on Facebook!

-#TheGNAC-