CHICOPEE, Mass. – In a thrilling final away match of the regular season, the Norwich Men’s Soccer squad faced off against Elms this past Saturday, firmly entrenching themselves in the dynamic landscape of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) playoff race.
A mere two minutes into the contest, the Cadets unleashed a wave of excitement. A powerful strike by Ben Rubinstein from Saratoga Springs, New York, ricocheted off the crossbar, setting the stage for teammate Judah Adams of St. Petersburg, Florida, who pounced on the rebound. With that deft maneuver, Adams netted his first-ever collegiate goal, sending shockwaves through the stadium and granting Norwich an exhilarating 1-0 lead.
However, the Blazers matched their intensity, leveling the score just six minutes later. Yet, Norwich, undeterred, showcased an ironclad dominance in possession, culminating in a bout of relentless attacks.
As the clock ticked to the 37th minute, Diego Fuentes from Valencia, Spain, initiated a corner kick that found Jeremy Pless with precision. It was Kam Jorgenson, hailing from Titusville, Florida, who capitalized on the opportunity, breaking through with a crucial goal, restoring the Cadets’ lead. Just minutes later, Fuentes delivered a scintillating free kick that found Rubinstein yet again, stretching the advantage to a commanding 3-1 before the break. At halftime, Nottingham dominated the shots with a staggering count of 17, nine of which were directed toward goal.
Continuing their offensive barrage, Rubinstein struck early in the second half, cementing the score at 4-1. Over the course of the match, he racked up an impressive seven shots, four of which were on target. Not to be outdone, Oleksandr Kharchuk from Ukraine contributed with three significant attempts on goal.
As the regular season draws to a close, the Cadets prepare to host Colby-Sawyer in a high-stakes matchup on Tuesday night at 7 PM, a crucial affair in their quest for playoff positioning.
