STANDISH, Maine – Top-seeded Saint Joseph's College (12-3-3, 11-2-1 GNAC) will host #5 Norwich University (8-2-7, 7-1-6 GNAC) in a 2023 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Men's Soccer Tournament Semifinal on Tuesday at 4:00 PM.
BRACKETOLOGY:
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 at #1 Saint Joseph's (Maine), 4:00 PM
#3 University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) at #2 Johnson & Wales, 4:00 PM
Championship – Saturday, Nov. 4
Semifinal winners, TBD
TEAM STATISTICS IN GNAC PLAY:
RANDOM FACTS:
- Saint Joseph's is 8-0-2 at home while Norwich is 6-1-3 on the road this fall
- The Monks have won five of their last seven contests while the Cadets are riding an 11-game undefeated streak with five wins in the last six games
- Saint Joseph's is 13-5-5 in the history of the series with Norwich University and had not suffered a loss at the hands of the Cadets since 2014 – a string of 11 contests – before falling by a 2-0 score in Northfield earlier this month
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Saint Joseph's:
- Junior midfielder Rion Dos Santos (São Paulo, Brazil) leads the team in goals (6), assists (8), and points (20)
- Junior Nate Sottak (Belmont, N.H.) has scored five goals – including three in the last four games – with one assist for 11 points
- Junior forward Gus Ford (Falmouth, Maine) has netted three goals and two assists for eight total points
Norwich:
- Senior midfielder Nathan Statires (Hampton, N.H.) leads the Cadets in goals (6) and points (13)
- Senior forward Jami Lashua (Williston, Vt.) has netted four goals with three assists for 11 total points
- Junior defender Cullen Swett (Williston, Vt.) has scored five goals – including three PK tallies – with 11 points overall
KEEPER COMPARISON:
SJC junior Liam Foley (Middleton, Mass.) leads the conference in wins (12) and shutouts (10) and ranks second in the GNAC in goals against average (0.59) and save percentage (.836). The first-year starter is also third in fewest goals allowed (10) and games (17) and fourth in minutes (1523:18).
Norwich junior Nicolas Lanza (Cocoa Beach, Fla.) ranks third in the GNAC in shutouts (6), fourth in goals against average (0.87), fifth in fewest goals allowed (13), and sixth in minutes (1338:02) and wins (7).
THE SKIPPERS:
Saint Joseph's: Will Pike – 4th season – 57-12-9 (.731)
Norwich: Staige Davis – 1st season – 8-2-7 (.471)
THE LAST TIME WE MET:
The Cadets defeated the Monks for the first time since 2014 with a 2-0 triumph in Northfield on October 3rd, 2023. Both of the Norwich goals were of the penalty kick variety and were netted by junior defender Cullen Swett. The first tally was scored in the 15th minute and the second came in the 66th minute.
The Monks held the lead in shots (10-5), shots on goal (3-2), and corner kicks (6-2) in the setback.
POSTSEASON HISTORY:
The Monks have advanced to the GNAC Tournament every season since the College joined the conference in the fall of 2007. Saint Joseph's is 23-9 in GNAC postseason play with GNAC Championships in 2009, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2021.
Since joining the GNAC in 1999, the Cadets have rattled off 24-consecutive tournament appearances with four conference titles (1999, 2000, 2001, 2008).
The Cadets have advanced to the GNAC semifinal round in 18 of the last 19 seasons with 12 GNAC Championship appearances, including six in the last 11 years. In 24 seasons as a member of the GNAC, Norwich owns a 37-19 (.661) playoff record, including a stellar 35-3 (.921) mark at home. The Cadets are 4-16 (.200) in away tournament games.
