MEN'S SOCCER

Men's Soccer: Norwich Dominates GNAC Awards

NORTHFIELD, Vt. - On the heels of winning the GNAC Tournament championship, the Norwich University men's soccer team won three of the league's four major awards, and placed nine players on the all-conference team.

Norwich head coach Kyle Dezotell led the way as the third-year mentor was tabbed as the GNAC "Coach of the Year" for the second straight season. Senior forward Ryan Boyton, who rewrote the Norwich and GNAC record books with one of the finest offensive seasons in recent memory, was named the league's "Offensive Player of the Year". Senior defender Jason Grupp (Highland Mills, N.Y.) rounded out NU's list of major award recipients as the four-year standout was selected as the loop's "Defensive Player of the Year".

Boyton, who leads the league in goals (21), assists (18) and points (60), was one of seven Cadets chosen to the conference first-team. The Dunedin, Fla., native has been Norwich's most consistent scorer all season long, netting at least one goal in 15 of the team's 20 games. He played well in the GNAC Tournament, scoring three goals and dishing out two assists. Boyton tallied the game-winning goal in NU's thrilling 2-1 victory over St. Joseph's (Maine) in the conference championship game last Saturday.

Senior forward Rob Harlow (West Springfield, Mass.), who was the 2007 GNAC "Player of the Year", joins Boyton on the first team. Despite being the focus of nearly every opposing team's defense this season, Harlow has managed to rank third on the team with 10 goals and 23 points.

Senior midfielder Drew Dilley earned first-team plaudits as well, following a terrific offensive season of his own. The Lancaster, Pa., native lists second on the team with 16 goals and 35 points. Dilley's hat trick sparked Norwich's 6-3 victory over Emerson in the GNAC quarterfinals.

Junior Jake Yaris (Raymond, N.H.) and sophomore Roger Motaze (Cameroon) join Dilley on the first-team midfield. Both players were instrumental to the Cadets' attack this season, helping to create opportunities for themselves and their teammates. Yaris is tied for third on the team in assists (seven), and ranks fourth on the club in points (15). Motaze, meanwhile, ranks second on the squad in assists (eight), and fifth in points (14).

Grupp and senior Kyle Przekaza (Northfield, Vt.) were named to the first-team defense. Both players have been exceptional at clearing the ball out of the Norwich zone, and are a big reason why the Cadets have posted nine shutouts already this season. The NU defense has limited the opposition to less than one goal per game this year.

A pair of Norwich players were named to the league's third-team, with junior defender Chris Rivet (Harrisville, R.I.) and junior goalkeeper Charles Maxwell (Rochester, N.Y.) earning the honor.

Rivet has been solid along the Cadets' back line all season long. He has also recorded seven assists this year, with most of them coming off of his fine corner kicks. Maxwell, meanwhile, has posted some gaudy numbers in his first season as a member of the Cadets. Going into the team's NCAA Tournament first round game, Maxwell has authored a 16-1-1 record to go along with a 0.97 goals-against average.

Norwich (17-2-1) will begin its quest toward a national championship on Saturday, when the Cadets travel to Middlebury, Vt., to battle Clark University in an NCAA Tournament first round game.