The Norwich University Cadets finished the 2011 season with a 9-5 record. The Cadets made it to the semi-finals of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference, before losing to the Lasell Lasers, 9-13. Heading into the 2012 season, the Cadets would like to make the GNAC championship and play for the NCAA qualifying bid, according to Head Coach Neal Anderson. Coach Anderson goes on to say, “we have a young team again this season, but last years’ experience will hopefully payoff. I expect us to play smart, physical lacrosse that will compete with a strong non-conference schedule.” Some of those non-conference games are against UMass Dartmouth (Little East), Clarkson (Liberty ), Husson (NAC), Plattsburgh (SUNYAC) and Castleton (NAC).
Leading the charge for the Cadets in 2012 will be junior midfielder Nathan Fortezzo and senior attackman Pat Sikora. Fortezzo had a .740 win percentage at the face-off X in 2011. He was also a pre-season honorable mention All-American by Inside Lacrosse. Fortezzo is also a captain of the Cadets as a junior. Sikora finished 2011 with 13 goals and three assists. According to his coach, “he will return as a finisher this season, where last year he was a set-up man in the midfield.” Sikora will be the senior leader at attack, while playing alongside two sophomore attackmen.
In the Great Northeast Athletic Conference, Mt. Ida College is the favorite to win the championship, according to Coach Anderson. He goes on to say, “we played them (Mt. Ida) tough last year with a young team, but they usually have a few key veteran players that know how to make things happen at the right time.” A dark horse in the GNAC would have to be Norwich. The Cadets finished third in the GNAC last year, and lost in the semi-finals to Lasell. Coach Anderson believes, “a lot of teams are looking at us as being strong this year due to our youth and talent level.” It will be interesting to see if the Cadets get to the championship game in the GNAC tournament in 2012.
Norwich in action
Photo courtesy of Norwich University Athletics
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