SOCCER

NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Dawn McNulty scored two goals and added an assist, and Kelly Bush chipped in a goal and two assists to lead the Norwich women's soccer team past Rivier in the GNAC opener for both schools on Saturday afternoon at Howard Field.

The win, which sent the Homecoming crowd of approximately 200 people home happy, snapped a brief two-game losing skid for Norwich and evened the Cadets' overall record at 2-2-0.

McNulty put the Cadets (1-0-0 GNAC) on the board in the opening minutes, netting her first tally of the game just 2:44 into the contest. At the 16:16 mark, McNulty assisted on Bush's goal to give the Cadets a quick 2-0 lead.

Norwich turned the match into a laugher early in the second half as the Cadets netted a pair of goals within the first eight minutes of the stanza. Nicki Szczepanski found the back of the net at the 48:47 mark, and McNulty made it 4-0 at the 52:34 mark. Bush was credited with an assist on both goals.

Sarah Riester put an exclamation point on the Norwich victory, scoring the Cadets' fifth goal of the day at the 69:44 mark.

Norwich completely dominated the game, holding a commanding 36-7 lead in shots. The Cadets also held an 8-0 edge in corner kicks.

Alecia Wright, Ashley Skovira and Nicki Hunsicker combined for the shutout as each keeper saw time in the Norwich net.

The Norwich women's soccer team returns to action next Saturday, Sept. 15, when the Cadets travel to Chestnut Hill, Mass., to take on conference foe Pine Manor.