LEC rings in its first season at Norwich with both teams scoring victories:
The inaugural season of the Little East Conference (LEC) has begun; with the Norwich Hockey Cadets both men and women teams claiming victory against their opponents. Both victories with decisive blowouts, with Men’s Hockey Team going 8-2 against Saint Anselm College.
The Men’s Hockey Team came out fighting with scoring 5 points in the first period of the Hockey Game and scoring their first point 2 minutes into their first home game of the season. With next week the Norwich Men Hockey being on the road at Dartmouth College, the hockey team is full ready to bring home another victory for the Hill.
Meanwhile, the Women’s Hockey Team also took a major victory at Suffolk University, with a final score of 8-1. Their team took charge of the rink right away, scoring 6 points in the first period and the first score being 1:30 into the game. With next week, the Women’s Hockey Team will be at Plymouth State University, hoping to bring another victory home to the hill.
As well prior to the start of this hockey season, both men and women teams, teamed up with Memories Matter 5K, benefitting the Vermont Dementia Foundation. On October 15th, both teams continued an annual tradition to serve the community.
Norwich’s legacy of service is built in moments like these: students giving their time on a Saturday morning, alumni turning personal adversity into community action, and coaches leading by example. At events like Memories Matter 5K, Norwich student-athletes honor a tradition of humble service that stretches back more than two centuries.
Whether stepping onto the ice or hitting the pavement, Cadets show that leadership and service are inseparable. Their participation in the Memories Matter 5K is a powerful reminder that small, compassionate acts—when embraced by a communities can inspire meaningful and lasting change.
For Brianna McLaughlin, Memories Matter 5K is more than just a race—it’s a personal mission and a promise fulfilled, transforming empathy into meaningful action. For Norwich hockey, it represents the continuation of a proud tradition rooted in leadership, teamwork, and service.
As runners crossed the finish line and families paused to reflect, the true impact of the day reached far beyond the course itself. The Memories Matter 5K continues to unite Norwich University, its student-athletes, and the Central Vermont community in a collective effort to create positive change. It serves as a powerful reminder that through every act of service, whether volunteering, fundraising, or offering a simple gesture of kindness, Norwich’s core values live on in the actions of its students and alumni.
The Norwich Hockey Teams, showed this week what it means to lead on the ice with two major blowout victories and off the ice; with their continued service to the community surrounding the Hill.
Women’s Rugby Tackle Cancer with victory over Maine:
Lastweekend, the Norwich Women’s Rugby close out the 2025 Home slate with a major victory 44-12 over the University of Maine in the annual Tackle Cancer Game on the Graveyard pitch.
The Norwich Cadets came out strong and maintained their momentum in a high-energy match that celebrated community, purpose, and perseverance. Powered by a combined four tries from Octavia Crawford (Shelburne Falls, Mass.) and Taina Negron (Melbourne, Fla.), building an early lead.
Crawford not only scored twice but also successfully kicked two conversions. Alongside Crawford and Negron, teammates Carlyan Vigbedor (Centreville, Va.), Lillie Ells (Centerville, Mass.), Leslie Malin (Brooklyn, N.Y.), and Isabelle Orta (Naples, Fla.) each added a try, contributing to Norwich’s impressive offensive outburst.
In addition to their scoring, the Cadets secured key set pieces throughout the match, winning a crucial scrum and a lineout while continuously challenging Maine’s possession. Their physical defense and attacking pace kept the Mariners on the back foot.
Saturday’s game served as the centerpiece of Norwich’s effort to raise awareness for breast cancer. Partnering with Vermonters Taking Action Against Cancer (VTAAC), the women’s rugby team hosted the annual Tackle Cancer Game. The day began with a heartfelt pre-match ceremony honoring those affected by breast cancer. This included a moment of silence and a flower presentation at midfield, setting a respectful and emotional tone. Senior Ava Smith (North Falmouth, Mass.) performed the National Anthem, adding further significance to the event.
On the field, Norwich channeled the day’s emotion into a dominant performance, posting their second-highest scoring output this season, second only to their 73-5 victory over the University of Rhode Island in late September.
With this win, Norwich improves to 3-1 in the fall and celebrates back-to-back home victories on the Graveyard Pitch. This follows their earlier success over the University of Vermont during Homecoming Weekend.
The Cadets will now prepare to close out their regular season on the road. They travel to Roger Williams University on Saturday, Oct. 25, before heading to the University of New Hampshire on Saturday, Nov. 1 to end the season.
Norwich Cadets Football Fall on the Road:
After a well-rested bye week, the Norwich University football team returned to the field Saturday afternoon, visiting SUNY Maritime for a NEWMAC matchup.
The Privateers came out strong, scoring on their opening 11-play, 80-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run by Joshua Rogers. They extended the lead later in the first quarter with a 5-yard score from Mark Russo, taking a 14-0 advantage into the second.
Maritime kept the momentum going early in the second quarter, as Rogers added another touchdown from two yards out. Norwich looked like it was to respond when quarterback Landon Beecher (Holliston, Mass.) connected with Ben Weers (Hebron, Conn.) for a 37-yard gain into the red zone, but the drive ended in a turnover. Privateers capitalized, scoring again before halftime to go up 28-0. They added two more touchdowns in the second half to secure the win.
Mike Cascarano (Lake Worth, Fla.) paced the Cadets’ ground game, averaging 4.3 yards per carry, while Anderson Guerrero (Boston, Mass.) led the receiving corps with six catches. On defense, Ben Primich (Yardley, Pa.) recorded a game-high 15 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss.
Norwich will continue NEWMAC play on October 25, when it hosts rival Coast Guard in the annual Little Army-Navy Game at 12:00 pm next Saturday.
Norwich Soccer Teams Dominate Possession with two major victories:
The Norwich University women’s soccer team delivered a dominant performance on Saturday, shutting out their opponent 6–0 in a complete team effort at Sabine Field.
Jasmine Hackman (Clear Brook, Va.) led the way with her first collegiate brace and added an assist, powering a fast start for the Cadets. Norwich struck three times in the first 11 minutes — Hackman scored twice, and Lily Briggs (Fair Haven, Vt.) added another off a well-worked buildup.
The momentum continued with Bella Roy (Weare, N.H.) heading in a corner from Heidi Smith (Sammamish, Wash.), followed by Antonia Pellon (Pownal, Vt.) curling in a direct corner kick to give Norwich a 5–0 halftime lead. Kat Probst (Gouverneur, N.Y.) capped the scoring in the second half.
Maddy Perry (Fair Haven, Vt.) anchored the midfield with three assists, while Smith added two. Goalkeepers Abby Kirrane (Lunenburg, Mass.) and Hannah Jenkins (Manchester, N.H.) combined for the clean sheet as Norwich controlled 68% of possession and outshot the opponent 23–1.
Meanwhile, the Norwich men’s soccer team traveled to Regis College, Saturday and rallied for a 2–1 victory in Great Northeast Athletic Conference. With Diego Fuentes (Valencia, Spain) playing a key role with a goal and an assist in the second half.
Norwich started strong, generating multiple scoring chances in the opening minutes, but the first half remained scoreless as both goalkeepers made important saves. Regis College finally broke through in the 58th minute when Jose Pacheco capitalized on Norwich turnover to put the Mariners ahead.
The Cadets answered swiftly. In the 62nd minute, with Fuentes taking a free kick, dribbled right, and found Gabriel Cantarero (Annapolis, Md.), who redirected the ball into the net to tie the match. Norwich kept the pressure on, and Fuentes secured the game-winning goal in the 85th minute with a powerful direct free kick.
Goalkeeper Kirk Rodgers (Lebanon, Ohio) made several crucial saves down the stretch, helping Norwich hold on for the comeback victory and improve their conference standing.
The Cadets will wrap up their home schedule on October 22nd for Women’s Soccer Season and wrapping up the Men’s Soccer Season on October 29th, hosting New England College.
Norwich’s Men and Women Swimming & Diving Begins their annual Season:
The Norwich University men’s and women’s swimming & diving teams kicked off the 2025-26 season with strong performances and conference honors, continuing their tradition of excellence in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC).
On the men’s side, junior Kristian Adlianitski (Cheshire, Conn.) earned GNAC Swimmer of the Week, while sophomore Gabe Wettig (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) was named Rookie of the Week. The Cadets opened their season Saturday at the Keene State Sprint Pentathlon, a unique meet where swimmers combine times from five sprint races—the 50-yard butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle, and 100-yard IM—into one total time. The meet also featured 200-yard medley and freestyle relays.
Adlianitski defended his pentathlon title with a winning combined time of 2:37.89. He claimed first place in three events—the 50-yard breaststroke (27.54), 50-yard freestyle (22.04), and 100-yard IM (56.56)—while placing third in the butterfly (24.89) and fourth in the backstroke (26.86). His winning time was nearly three seconds faster than last year. This marks Adlianitski’s fifth GNAC weekly honor.
Wettig impressed his collegiate debut, finishing 10th overall with a total time of 2:54.15. He placed within the top 15 in all events and helped Norwich finish third and fourth in the 200-yard freestyle and medley relays, respectively. This is Wettig’s first GNAC Rookie of the Week award, extending Norwich’s streak of rookie honors.
On the women’s side, senior Reilly Laitala (Sterling, Mass.) earned GNAC Diver of the Week, while freshman Delaney Allen (Gibsonia, Pa.) was named Rookie of the Week. At the same Keene State meet, Allen had an impressived ebut, placing fourth overall with a combined time of 3:07.82. She posted top five finishes in four of the five sprint races and anchored Norwich’s 200-yard medley and freestyle relays, both of which finished third.
Laitala, a two-time GNAC Women’s Diver of the Year, dominated the 1-meter diving competition with a top score of 215.65, more than 30 points ahead of her nearest competitor. This is Laitala’s 12th career GNAC weekly award.
Norwich will host its home opener on Saturday, Oct. 25, against Regis College at Goodyear Pool at 11:00 a.m., kicking off a three-meet homestand that includes Husson University on Nov. 1 and Maine Maritime Academy on Nov. 8.
