SOCCER

Women's Soccer: Five Cadets Earn All-GNAC Plaudits

NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Fresh off its first-ever GNAC Tournament title, the Norwich University women's soccer team placed five players on the all-conference team, it was announced by the league office on Tuesday.

Junior defender Ashley Sanford, who was the lone Cadet on the first-team, was voted the league's "Defensive Player of the Year". The Holden, Maine, native is an instrumental member of the NU defense that registered 10 shutouts and yielded less than one goal per game.

Senior midfielder Becky Scully (Dartmouth, Nova Scotia) and sophomore forward Nikki Szczepanski (Auburn, N.Y.) were both selected to the league's second team. Scully, who ranks third on the team in goals (five) and fourth on the squad in points (13), has been a key cog to the NU offense throughout the season.

Szczepanski, meanwhile, leads the Cadets in goals (seven), assists (seven) and points (21). Her ability to create quality scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates is a big reason why Norwich was able to win the GNAC, and advance to the NCAA Championship.

A pair of Norwich players earned third-team honors, with junior midfielder Meghan Hoskins and sophomore midfielder Sarah Reuschel picking up awards. Hoskins, who currently lists second on the team in goals (six) and points (15), has scored some big goals for the Cadets this season. The Bangor, Maine, product scored the game-winning goal in the GNAC quarterfinals when she converted a penalty kick in overtime.

Reuschel, meanwhile, has done an excellent job in recent weeks of marking the opposing team's top offensive player. Her defensive play has helped the Cadets immensely down the stretch this season. The Colchester, Vt., native was selected as the GNAC Tournament's MVP after three impressive performances in the tourney.

Norwich (15-4-2) will host Husson (15-4-0) in an NCAA Tournament first round game on Thursday, Nov. 13, at Howard Field. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.