In a re-match of last year's Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) semi-final, the Mount Ida College men's soccer team captured a 4-2 victory over visiting Norwich University Monday afternoon in Newton, Massachusetts.  The Mustangs, who dropped a tough 5-0 semi-final post-season loss to Norwich in 2008, outplayed the Cadets who had trouble controlling the Mustangs attack today crediting to the loss.  Mount Ida pulls into second place (5-7-0, 4-1-0 GNAC) in the GNAC men's soccer standings with the victory behind neighboring Lasell College who will travel to face the Mustangs this Thursday on senior day.   The Cadets drop their third straight conference game falling to 2-3-1 in the GNAC and 5-6-2 in 2009.

Mount Ida standout freshman forward Will Daniels (Bethany, CT/Notre Dame) dazzled the Cadets netting two scores, including the game winner, creating all kinds of havoc in the Norwich half of the field.  Although the Mustangs won, the Cadets struck first in the 15^th minute of play on a well threaded pass from the left side of the box from freshman Kyle Buscaglia (Akron, NY/Akron) to junior Zach Blodgett (Troy, NH/Monadnock Regional) slipping a shot into the left corner of the net for the 1-0 lead.

Mount Ida answered 11 ticks later in the 26^th minute of play on a deflected shot that caromed off the dive of Cadet keeper Charles Maxwell (Rochester, NY/Mendon).  Daniels hammered a shot at the chest of Maxwell that deflected directly to the feet of Mustang freshman Matt Palatino (Ludlow, MA/Ludlow) who curled a well placed shot into the top right corner for his first goal of the year knotting the score at 1-1. 

Six minutes later, Norwich received a gift from the referee after a questionable tripping call in the box by Mount Ida senior sweeper Leo Roy (Manchester, NH/Goffstown Area) awarding a penalty kick.   Cadet senior Chris Rivet (Harrisville, RI/Mt. St. Charles) was called upon converting the free shot, depositing it into the top right corner, regaining the lead, up 2-1.

Toward the final ticks of the first half, Norwich handed the Mustangs the tying score with an "own goal".  Mount Ida freshman Ricky Oliviera (New Bedford, MA/New Bedford) curled a corner kick towards the net that was deflected around the box.  A clear attempt ricocheted off a Cadet defender rolling into the net to knot the score at 2-2 heading into the break. 

The second half belonged to the Mustangs who came out fired up scoring in the 47^th minute of play.  Oliviera, who has been solid for Mount Ida on free kicks all season, curled a corner kick towards the front post directly to the head of Daniels who flicked it towards the net.  The ball hit bottom of the cross bar, bounced off the line, and was signaled a goal by the head referee giving the Mustangs their first lead of the game off Daniels first goal of the contest (3-2).

The wind was sucked out of Norwich's sails, deflating their momentum and inflating it into the Mustangs.  The action was stalemated for the next 20 minutes of play until the dynamic Daniels struck again.  Junior midfielder Sam Kelly Georges (Cambridge, MA/Cambridge & Latin) rolled a well placed pass to Daniels at the top of the 18 yard box.  Daniels proceeded to challenge the Cadet's goaltender hammering a laser towards the bottom left corner of the net that beat Maxwell giving the Mustangs a 4-2 advantage in the 67^th minute.  Norwich had no answer for Mount Ida for the rest of the contest, handing the Mustangs their fourth (4-1-0 GNAC) conference victory of the season. 

Mount Ida outshot their opponents 30-17 with 10 of the 30 shots coming from Daniels.  It was a very physical game with a total of 34 fouls between the teams, 19 for Norwich and 15 for Mount Ida.

Mustang goalkeeper sophomore Steven Enright (South Kingston, RI/Prout) was again outstanding playing all 90 minutes denying three visiting shots.  Cadet starting goaltender Maxwell, who notched two saves, was pulled in the 75^th minute of play and was replaced by freshman Sam Armus (Racine, WI/The Prairie School) who also tallied two stops.

The Mustangs will host GNAC rival Lasell College this coming Thursday on Senior Day starting at 3:30 p.m. at Mount Ida Athletic Stadium.