Box Score 

NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Sophomore forward Nikki Szczepanski netted the game-winning goal midway through the second half to propel the Norwich University women's soccer team to an exciting 2-1 victory over Emmanuel College in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference match Tuesday afternoon at a cold and wet Howard Field.

With the win, the Cadets (13-4, 9-2 GNAC) remain in first place in the conference standings. The Saints, meanwhile fall to 9-6 (7-3 GNAC).

Neither team was able to score in the first half as each team's goalkeeper made three saves apiece. Emmanuel had the best chance in the opening 45 minutes as Melanie Hoffman clanged a shot off the crossbar midway through the period.

Emmanuel broke through with the game's first goal less than two minutes into the second stanza as Amer Di Nucci tallied her 12th marker of the season off an assist from Meghan Long. Long served the ball into the box off a direct kick and Di Nucci deftly headed it past NU goalkeeper Nicki Hunsicker to put the Saints on top 1-0 at the 46:09 mark.

Norwich evened the score at 1-1 in the 54th minute as senior defender Leanne Waterman took a pass from Ashley Sanford and slipped the ball past Emmanuel goalkeeper Laureyn Furtney. It marked Waterman's second goal of the season.

The game went back and forth for the next 15 minutes, until Szczepanski collected the ball near midfield and sprinted down the left sideline. An Emmanuel defender was with her step for step before Szczepanski turned on the jets, cut into the middle of the field near the 18-yard line and fired a low laser to the left-hand corner of the net to give the Cadets a 2-1 advantage. The goal, Szczepanski's team-leading sixth of the season came at the 69:07 mark, and put NU in front for the first time all day.

The Saints refused to go away, however, as they generated several quality scoring chances in the game's final 20 minutes. One shot attempt hit the right goalpost, while another had to be headed away by NU freshman defenseman Stacey Flint after Hunsicker had wandered out of the goal momentarily.

Hunsicker finished the afternoon with six saves, while Furtney made five stops. Norwich outshot Emmanuel, 18-14, and each team attempted five corner kicks.

Prior to the game, Norwich head coach Tyler Renaud honored the team's four seniors: Waterman, Becky Scully, Jessica Carroll and Tracey Breault.

"What a match," exclaimed Renaud following the contest. "Both teams deserved to win this game with the style of play and opportunities created by each squad. Stacey Flint's point blank save with her head with about four minutes left was huge, and then we just held on until the final whistle. 

"Seniors Leanne Waterman and Becky Scully were awesome in their last regular season home game, and I hope this is a memory they will keep with them for a long time. Nicki Hunsicker was great in goal once again, making two huge saves in the final 10 minutes. It was just a great team effort, and I'm very proud to be their head coach!"

Norwich returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 25, when the Cadets travel to Providence, R.I., to tangle with GNAC foe Johnson & Wales in another pivotal conference match. Should NU defeat JWU, the Cadets would clinch the No. 1 seed in the upcoming GNAC Tournament. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.