Senior mid-fielder Sean Doherty readies for a corner kick (Photo Courtesy of Minese Photography/Dean College Athletics)
NORTHFIELD, VT – The Dean College Bulldogs men’s soccer team returned to the pitch on a beautiful Tuesday night in a crucial Great Northeastern Athletic Conference road matchup versus the Cadets of Norwich University and brought home a 1-0 victory. Dean entered the match following a huge 1-0 home shutout win against Elms College on Saturday, while Norwich looked to finally get in the win column after a 2-2 tie on the road to Albertus Magnus College Saturday.
The Bulldogs would lose the match in a majority of the crucial categories: shots 4-11, shots on goal 3-5, and corners 1-9. Despite what the statistics might say, Dean was able to rally behind a strong effort on both sides of the ball.
One goal was all it took, as in the 13th minute Bulldogs senior mid-fielder Sean Doherty took a corner kick and fired a ball across field to the 6-yard box. Fellow senior forward Bryce King then darted around his defender and leapt high in to the air to head the ball past stunned Norwich goalie Nicholas Lanza for the 1-0 lead they’d never look back on.
“The key to our 1-0 win against Norwich was our relentless teamwork and determination on the field,” commented senior goalkeeper Alberto Gonzalez Del Rio. “Every player gave their best, both on offense and defense, and that made the difference. This two-game win streak has been an absolute joy for the team, and it’s a testament to our hard work and dedication,” he continued. “We’re looking to build on this momentum and continue to strive for success in the upcoming matches.”
The win moves the Bulldogs to 4-2-1-1 on the season with a 2-2-1 mark in GNAC play. Dean is back in action this Saturday, September 23rd for another conference match as they’ll square off with Rivier University at Longley Athletic Complex at 3pm.