WEST HARTFORD, Conn. –  The Rivier men's soccer team is headed to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship for the first time since 1997, riding the momentum of a 1–0 win over Norwich.

The Raiders will travel to take on the top-seeded University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) on Saturday, Nov. 8,  at 1:00 p.m. at USJ Soccer Field.

Sophomore Alejandro Quezada converted from the penalty spot in the 70th minute after first-year David Pereira drew the foul. The match was evenly contested throughout, with Norwich holding a slight 13–10 edge in shots, while senior Logan Clough and Cadets' keeper Kirk Rodgers each came up with key saves to keep it close. In the end, Quezada's strike stood as the difference, lifting the Raiders to a 1–0 victory.

USJ's path to the championship began with a 1–0 quarterfinal win over No. 8 Albertus Magnus, powered by a lone goal from senior Nicholas Simpson. In the semifinal round, the Blue Jays blanked No. 4 Saint Joseph's (Maine) 3–0, receiving goals from three different scorers, Emmanuel Ofori, Mario Milardo, and Trevor Sousa.

These teams last met on October 4 at USJ Soccer Field, where they played to a 2–2 draw. The scoring opened with a Rivier own goal, but sophomore Luiggi Ferreira pulled the Raiders even in the 61st minute. The Blue Jays regained the lead 10 minutes later with a strike from Damir Cirkicorvic, but the advantage was short-lived, as Quezada buried the late equalizer to secure the tie for Rivier.

Key player to watch for the Blue Jays is sophomore Milardo leads USJ with 26 points, recording a team-high 10 goals along with six assists. Senior Ofori sits close behind with 23 points, tallying nine goals and five assists on the season. In net, sophomore Will Slayton anchors the defense with a .811 save percentage, backed by 60 saves and a 1.00 goals-against average.

The winner of Saturday's matchup will claim the GNAC title and secure the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.