NORTHFIELD, VT— After 106:51 minutes of action between Norwich University and Lasell College in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Men's Soccer Tournament Quarter Finals, the Cadets triumphed, 3-2, with a golden goal scored with just three minutes left in double overtime. The come from behind victory was claimed in dramatic fashion by Norwich on Howard Field to secure a spot in the semi finals on Thursday.
Garrett Shufelt (Clifton Park, NY) converted on the deciding shot which came off a free kick by Chris Bristol (Clinton, CT). Shufelt drilled a shot along the ground from the center of the penalty box towards the right post, producing the Cadets victory.
Norwich had to rally to catch up twice in the game after Lasell took an early lead. Isaac Soares (Somerset, MA) locked in on the first goal of the contest, less than five minutes into play, after taking a pass from Evan Gaccione (Westerly, RI) on the right wing to beat the Cadets' goalkeeper Christian Hallstrom (Las Vegas, NV).
Ryan Robertson (Northfield, VT) headed in a corner kick just three minutes later to even the score for the first time. Robertson's goal came off a corner kick serviced from Bristol. The 1-all tie remained steady though the rest of the first half.
An own goal that deflected off of a Norwich defender after a Gaccione corner in the 53rd minute put Lasell back on top, 2-1. The lead would stand through 67:47 when Norwich was awarded a penalty kick after an infraction that left Lasell man-down for the rest of the contest. Anthony Amell (Northfield, VT) produced on the penalty kick to level the score for the second time and force the extra frames.
Lasell's offense continued to attack and outshot Norwich 4-3 in the extra sessions, even short a man, but it was the Cadets that advance to the semifinals on Shufelt's final goal with 3:09 left in the second overtime.
Laser goalie Aren Moorman (Somerset, NJ) made three saves in his first GNAC tournament appearance. Hallstrom also collected three saves en route to the Norwich victory.
The Cadets will face top-seeded Albertus Magnus for the second straight year in the semifinals. Last year, the Falcons won 4-0.
Lasell's season concludes at 9-5-3 overall.