The Norwich University men's soccer team downed Johnson State College 4-0 on Saturday afternoon at Sabine Field to repeat as Cadet Kickoff Classic champions. The Badgers end the weekend 0-2, 0-0 North Atlantic Conference (NAC) as the Cadets advance to 2-0, 0-0 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC).
Rookie Nihad Basic fired off three shots for the Badgers while Keegan Hanlon, Pedro Perez and Josh King contributed one each in the losing effort.
Freshman forward Jacob Zimmerman put NU up 1-0 in the first half when he buried a shot into a wide-open net after senior midfielder Eric Weir flicked the ball past goalkeeper Ryan Belen to free up Zimmerman.
Three minutes into the second half Moab Schiers blasted a strike across his body from 25 yards out at the top of the box into the far upper left corner of the net increasing the Norwich lead to 2-0.
Norwich scored its third goal in the 72nd minute when Zimmerman once again converted for his third goal of the season by taking a flick on from fellow rookie Alec Brigante.
Bristol capped the scoring with another tally in the 86th minute by blasting a direct kick from 25 yards out into the top right corner of the net to make it 4-0 Norwich.
Bristol was named to the All-Tournament Team along with Schiers, Zimmerman and Derek Morin. Bristol also earned Defensive Most Valuable Player honors as well. MCLA's Dylan Pereira was named the Offensive Most Valuable Player after tallying an incredible six goals over the two-day classic tournament to lead the Trailblazers.
Pereira was joined on the All-Tournament Team by fellow teammates Matt Robinson, Robert Dalby and Tyler Guzzi. Johnson State's Belen and Drew Steady were named to the squad, as well as Green Mountain's Matt Kukola and Tyler Lawson.
NU junior goalkeeper Greg Payne picked up his second victory of the season after playing the first half and making saves on both shots he faced. Belen made 11 saves for Johnson State to fall to 0-2 on the year.
Norwich outshot Johnson State 33-6 and had eight corner kicks to the Badgers three.
The Badgers will take to the field again Wednesday, September 4th against Postdam for Johnson's first home match of the season. Norwich take on Plattsburgh State on for a road match also on Wednesday.