Norwich Falls in Little Army-Navy Game against Coast Guard Academy
Norwich Cadets took on their archrivals, the Coast Guard Academy, this past weekend in the 79th edition of the Little Army-Navy Game.
After successfully taking the first ball during the kickoff, the Cadets would fall short on downs, with the Coast Guard Bears taking the opportunity to score an opening drive a few minutes later. That being said, the Norwich Defense came up big with a fourth down stop from Jalen Elibert-Fowlkes (Saint-Hubert, Quebec) with Coast Guard extending their ever-growing lead against the Cadets.
The Cadets soon fired back with their first score of the game as Landon Beecher (Holliston, Massachusetts) found Ben Weers (Hebron, Connecticut) in the Coast Guard territory, with a catch and run. Another play also found the Cadets in scoring range with a completion to Henri Bonque (Claremont, New Hampshire) but failed after the Cadets turned over on downs.
The Coast Guard Bears continued their lead into the 2nd quarter with a forced fumble from Jamarion Burns (Jackson, Tennessee), which resulted in a touchdown by the Bears. Coast Guard later put together a third scoring drive before Norwich finally broke through. The Cadets’ drive began with a 24-yard reception by Bourque, followed by a defensive holding call. Three plays later, Beecher connected with Bourque again for a 38-yard touchdown, capping a quick 70-yard drive in just four plays. Coast Guard immediately answered, returning the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown to make it 28-7 at halftime.
Start of the 2nd half, the Bears opened with two touchdowns before the Cadets struck back. Two personal fowls and pass interference calls on the Bears brought the Cadets into scoring range where Beecher connected with Weers for a nine-yard touchdown. To end off the game in the fourth quarter, Aidan Sullivan (Eliot, Maine) found Bourque for a 76-yard catch-and-run touchdown with Will Patenaude (Goffstown, N.H.) added a rushing touchdown late in the quarter to close out the scoring.
Norwich Cadets totaled 225 passing yards, led by Beecher, who threw for 144 yards and two touchdowns while completing 69.5% of his passes. Bourque turned into a standout performance with seven receptions for 156 yards and two touchdowns, while Weers added four catches for 54 yards and a score.
While the Norwich defense shined with Corey Stone (Piscataway, N.J.) and Ben Primich (Yardley, Pa.) sharing the team lead with 13 tackles apiece. Both were responsible for two of the unit’s four forced fumbles, with Jamarion Burns (Jackson, Tenn.) and Madux McGrath (Amherst, N.H.) forcing the others. In the pass rush, Devin DeJesus (Chelmsford, Mass.) and Michael Macaione (Gilmanton Iron Works, N.H.) each recorded a sack, with DeJesus also adding a second tackle for loss.
The Norwich Cadets will return to Sabine Field on November 1 hosting Springfield College.
Norwich Swim and Dive continue to gain recognition in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference
The Norwich University men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams continued to earn recognition from the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) this week, as a combined six Cadets collected weekly honors following dominant performances in their home-opening victories over Regis College on Saturday at Goodyear Pool.
For the women’s team, senior Reilly Laitala (Sterling, Mass.) was named GNAC Diver of the Week, while senior Brandy Lewis (Strafford, Vt.) and freshman Burgan Danger (Wadsworth, Ohio) were selected to the GNAC Weekly Honor Roll, as announced by the conference office Monday afternoon. On the men’s side, junior Kristian Adlianitski (Cheshire, Conn.) earned GNAC Swimmer of the Week honors, sophomore Gabe Wettig (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) was recognized as Rookie of the Week, and Drew Bylow (Monroe, Mich.) along with Andrew Clark (Acworth, Ga.) were each named to the Weekly Honor Roll.
The Cadets opened their home schedule in commanding fashion, with the women defeating Regis 147–86 and the men prevailing 148–68, combining for 19 event victories across the two meets.
Laitala continued her dominance on the boards, sweeping both rounds of the 1-meter dive for the second consecutive meet. She tallied scores of 225.15 in the six-optional dive segment and 171.30 in the five-voluntary round—both more than 20 points ahead of the competition. The two-time defending GNAC Women’s Diver of the Year has now accumulated 13 career GNAC weekly awards, including six during the 2024–25 season.
Lewis claimed victories in both long-distance freestyle events, winning the 1000-yard freestyle in 12:19.53 and the 500-yard freestyle in 5:59.02, each by comfortable margins. Danger impressed in her home debut, contributing to the Cadets’ success with a win and a runner-up finish in individual events while also aiding a relay victory. She opened the meet as part of the winning 200-yard medley relay, then went on to win the 100-yard backstroke (1:05.28) and place second in the 200-yard individual medley (2:37.36).
On the men’s side, Adlianitski continued to shine in the sprint events, capturing first place in both the 50-yard freestyle (21.97) and 100-yard freestyle (49.93). He also swam the breaststroke leg for Norwich’s winning 200-yard medley relay, which posted a time of 1:39.64, finishing over 13 seconds ahead of the field. The honor marks the sixth GNAC weekly award of Adlianitski’s career and his second of the 2024–25 season.
Wettig earned his second consecutive GNAC Rookie of the Week distinction after placing second in the 100-yard freestyle (52.08) and third in the 200-yard individual medley (2:13.21), while also contributing to the winning 400-yard freestyle relay (3:23.56).
Bylow notched two individual victories in the 200-yard freestyle (1:51.11) and 100-yard backstroke (55.40), while Clark secured wins in the 100-yard butterfly (54.01) and 500-yard freestyle (5:12.62). Both swimmers were integral to Norwich’s 200-yard medley relay victory, swimming the backstroke and butterfly legs, respectively.
Both Norwich squads will return to the pool on Saturday, November 1, when they will host Husson University at 12:00 p.m. inside Goodyear Pool. The meet marks the second of three consecutive home duals for the Cadets during the fall season.
Norwich Soccer stumbles into the Quarterfinals
In their final week of regular-season play, both the Norwich University men’s and women’s soccer teams took to the field as they battled for position within the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) standings. The women’s team closed the campaign with a record-setting victory, while the men’s side fell on the road but look to rebound in their home finale.
In their regular-season finale Tuesday afternoon, the Norwich women’s soccer team delivered a historic performance, defeating Mitchell College in GNAC play with a 9–0 victory — their highest goal total since 2018 and largest margin of victory since 2012.
From the opening whistle, the Cadets controlled every facet of play, firing six shots and earning four corners before breaking through in the 17th minute. Heidi Smith (Sammamish, Wash.) opened the scoring after collecting a deflected ball, slicing through the defense, and chipping a shot over the goalkeeper. Less than a minute later, Maddy Perry (Fair Haven, Vt.) set up Lily Briggs (Fair Haven, Vt.) for a composed finish inside the right post to double the lead.
Norwich continued to press forward, as Kat Probst (Gouverneur, N.Y.) made it 3–0 in the 27th minute with a strike from the top of the box. Zoey Lazzaro (Peterborough, N.H.) added two more before halftime — her first collegiate goals — sending the Cadets into the break with a commanding 5–0 advantage after outshooting Mitchell 22–7.
The onslaught continued in the second half. Jasmine Hackman (Clear Brook, Va.) found Perry for the sixth goal in the 48th minute, before Perry turned provider again, assisting Antonia Pellon (Pownal, Vt.) in the 62nd. Bella Roy (Weare, N.H.) struck in the 83rd minute off the crossbar and down, and Probst capped her five-point performance with a goal in the closing minutes.
Norwich dominated statistically, posting a 40–7 edge in shot attempts with 22 on target, while Michaela Dubey (Belchertown, Mass.) and Hannah Jenkins (Manchester, N.H.) combined for the clean sheet. With the win, the Cadets secured a spot in the GNAC Tournament, with their quarterfinal matchup set for Saturday, Nov. 1.
While in their penultimate regular-season contest, the Norwich men’s soccer team traveled to Regis College as both teams fought for postseason positioning in the GNAC standings.
The Regis Pride seized control early, scoring in the fifth minute and doubling their lead ten minutes later on Callum Park’s second of the match. Regis added a third in the 23rd minute to take a 3–0 advantage.
Norwich responded late in the first half, as Ben Rubinstein (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) beat a defender to the end line and sent a cross into the box, where Shea Perkins (Carl Junction, Mo.) calmly finished into the bottom left corner to cut the deficit to two before halftime.
The Cadets pushed hard in the second half, with chances from Perkins, Rubinstein, Diego Fuentes (Valencia, Spain), and Andrew McDonough (Gilford, N.H.), but Wylie Gardiner, who entered in relief for Regis, made five crucial saves to preserve the win.
Norwich will close out the regular season on Tuesday, Oct. 29, when they return home to face New England College at 4:00 p.m. at Sabine Field, looking to build momentum entering GNAC Tournament play.
Norwich Hockey wraps up their preseason games:
The Norwich University men’s and women’s hockey teams wrapped up their exhibition schedules over the weekend, each turning in promising performances ahead of the start of the 2025–26 regular season.
The women’s hockey team closed its preseason with a 2–0 victory over Plymouth State on Friday afternoon, delivering a strong all-around performance. Senior goaltender Madison Brunet (Timmins, Ont.) and sophomore Payton Sutherland (Brighton, Colo.) combined for the shutout, while the Cadets’ special teams played a key role, going 1-for-2 on the power play and perfect on the penalty kill.
Breanna Ricker (Laconia, N.H.) opened the scoring in the first period with a power-play goal off a feed from Alex Leslie (Irishtown, N.B.), assisted by Olivia Boyer (Saint Paul, Minn.). In the second period, Natalie Heutmaker (Eagan, Minn.) extended the lead by redirecting a shot from Rylie McIntyre (Brunswick, Maine), with Libby Lane (Northville, Mich.) adding the secondary assist.
The men’s hockey team concluded its exhibition slate on Sunday afternoon, facing Division I Dartmouth College in the programs’ first exhibition meeting since 2012. The Big Green struck early, scoring twice in the opening period and adding two more goals in each of the final two frames. Despite the scoreline, Norwich battled throughout the game, generating several quality scoring chances.
Goaltenders Sami Molu (Toronto, Ont.) and Bryce Walcarius (Aylmer, Ont.) shared time in net, combining for 28 saves. Molu stopped 19 shots in the first half, while Walcarius recorded nine saves in relief.
With the preseason behind them, the Cadets now turn their focus to the regular season, which begins on Friday, Nov. 1, when fourth-ranked Curry College visits Kreitzberg Arena for a 7:00 p.m. puck drop. Before the game, longtime Norwich broadcaster George Commo will be honored in recognition of receiving the 2025 AHCA Jim Fullerton Award.
The Women’s Hockey Team will open their regular season at traveling to face seventh-ranked Plattsburgh State on October 31st. While the Men Hockey Team will stay at home taking on #4 in the League Curry College on November 1st.
Norwich Rugby Teams fall just short of victory on the road
Both Men and Women teams fell short this weekend on the Road, with the Women’s Rugby team losing to Roger Williams University with a close game of 22-29.
Whereas the Men’s Rugby Team after coming off a well-needed bye weekend; tied on the Road against Dartmouth College. Ending their scoring of 28-28 after both teams fought hard for a victory.
