Butters, Lizotte Score as Women’s Soccer Takes Down Norwich

NASHUA, N.H. – The Rivier women's soccer team used two goals in a 1:36 span in the early stages of the second half to fend off Norwich in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play on Tuesday night at Merrill Field, jumping to 3-1 (3-0 GNAC) on the season. The victory snapped five-game skid against the Cadets, which dated back to the 2017 season.

After sustaining pressure and attempting six shots in the first half, Rivier was unable to get on the scoreboard in the opening 45 minutes. Goalkeeper Julia Cafferty turned aside the one shot she faced in the frame to keep the game deadlocked at 0-0 into the halftime break.

Nearly seven minutes into the second half, Jordan Butters dribbled around a defender and fired a shot from 20 yards out into the top left corner of the goal to put the Raiders up 1-0. Less than two minutes later, Rivier moved quickly up the field as Butters fed Kaylee Magoon into space towards the right corner. Magoon then slotted a pass into the box that found the right foot of Emily Lizotte who made no mistake in burying the opportunity to double the hosts' lead.

After securing a free kick, Norwich's Lindsey Duggan lofted the ball into the box which was pushed to the middle by Bella Roy before Antonia Pellon fired it home past Bri Nugent to cut the Cadets' deficit in half. Despite the slight momentum shift in Norwich's favor, it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit, and the Raiders came away with their third-straight victory.

Rivier outshot Norwich, 19-2, and fired eight shots on goal to the Cadets' two. The Raiders also piled up seven corner kicks to the visitors' one try.

The Raiders continue their impressive turnaround under first-year head coach Daniel Milton, as tonight's triumph marked the first season with at least three conference wins since 2016.

GNAC play is put on pause until the weekend as Rivier turns its attention to a Thursday night showdown at Mass. Maritime with kick-off set for 7:00 p.m at Clean Harbors Stadium.