Posted: Aug 29, 2014
The Johnson State men's soccer team (0-1) opened up the 2014 season with a 4-0 loss to Norwich University on Friday night in the third annual Cadet Kickoff Classic.
Norwich (1-0) got goals from DJ Spears, Moab Schiers, Zach Garcia and Pedro Rodriguez en route to its fifth straight win at its own season-opening tournament.
Senior goalkeeper Christian Hallstrom made four saves to pick up the shutout.
Norwich struck first in the 14th minute when Garcia came away with a loose ball in the box off a free-kick service from Schiers.
Schiers' service pinballed off a couple of players before Garcia came down onto it with a left-footed strike that beat Johnson State goalkeeper Alex Pakatar to the bottom left corner of the goal.
Norwich extended its lead to 2-0 in the 25th minute when Schiers converted a penalty kick after sophomore forward Alec Brigante drew the penalty by being dragged down from behind.
Schiers calmly tucked the ball inside the right post as Pakatar dove to the left to make it a three-point night for the sophomore midfielder.
Johnson State had its best chance to cut into the lead 52nd minute when Richie Perez had a direct kick from 20-yards out. His blasted a shot past the Norwich wall, but NU goalkeeper Hallstrom punched the ball away. Sean Springer had a chance on the rebound coming from the right, but he pushed the shot wide of the goal.
Norwich scored a third goal in the 73rd minute when Chris Bristol centered a crossing pass from the right into the front of the net. Spears corralled the pass and then first a shot into the bottom left corner of the net for the first goal of his collegiate career.
Norwich added one more insurance marker in the 82nd minute when Pedro Rodriguez was sprung all alone on a breakaway off a great through ball from Eric Beecy.Rodriguez outran the Johnson State defender and then slipped the ball into the bottom of the left corner of the net after Pakatar came off his line to challenge.
Pakatar made 10 saves for Johnson State.
Norwich improved to 10-0-1 all-time on Sabine Field at Haynes Family Stadium with the victory. The Cadets will face Green Mountain College on Saturday at 2 p.m. MCLA will take on Johnson State at 11:30 after the Trailblazers beat Green Mountain 5-0 prior to the Norwich match.