NASHUA, N.H. – After defeating No. 4 Regis (Mass.), 5-2, in Tuesday evening's Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Semifinal, the Rivier women's soccer team has advanced to the GNAC Championship game for the second consecutive season.
The No. 1-seeded Raiders will host the No. 6 Cadets of Norwich on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Joanne Merrill Field, with kickoff scheduled for 5:00 p.m. The championship appearance marks another program milestone for Rivier, which will host the GNAC Championship for the first time in program history.
Rivier punched its ticket to the championship behind an impressive offensive performance against Regis. The Raiders struck early when junior forward Bianca Casna found the back of the net in the seventh minute off an assist from junior midfielder Leah Morrier. Sophomore Ciarra Terry doubled the advantage in the 20th minute before Morrier added her first goal of the evening just after halftime. Regis responded with two goals to cut the deficit to one, but senior Hannah Smith restored Rivier's two-goal cushion in the 69th minute. Morrier capped off the scoring just two minutes later, completing her brace and securing the 5-2 victory.
Morrier led the offensive effort with two goals and an assist, totaling five points. Casna, Terry, and Smith each added a goal, while sophomore goalkeeper Olivia Rosario played all 90 minutes and recorded two saves. The Raiders finished with a 16-10 advantage in shots and a 12-4 edge in shots on goal.
Norwich enters Saturday's championship after putting together an impressive postseason run of its own. The No. 6-seeded Cadets opened tournament play with a scoreless draw against No. 3 Emmanuel before advancing with a 3-0 advantage in penalty kicks. Freshman goalkeeper Sophie Olivo was instrumental in the victory, stopping all 12 shots on target throughout regulation and overtime.
In Tuesday's semifinal, Norwich traveled to No. 2 Lasell and rallied for a 2-1 overtime victory. After trailing 1-0 at halftime, junior midfielder Lily Briggs equalized in the 53rd minute with a strike from 35 yards out. Sophomore forward Maddy Perry delivered the game-winner just over two minutes into overtime, scoring off a cross from junior forward Colby Magoon to send the Cadets to their first GNAC Championship appearance since 2008.
During the regular season, Rivier and Norwich met on Sept. 16 at Sabine Field in Northfield, Vt., where the Raiders came away with a 2-1 victory. The win marked Rivier's second consecutive victory over the Cadets.
Players to watch for Norwich include Magoon, who has provided a consistent offensive presence throughout the season, and Briggs, who has come up with key goals during the Cadets' postseason run. Olivo will also be one to watch after recording 19 saves across Norwich's two postseason contests.
Saturday's matchup will feature two programs looking to add another chapter to their respective histories. The winner will claim the GNAC Championship title and earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament.
