Norat's hat trick leads Bulldogs to first-ever NEC tournament

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Junior Connor Norat (Wilmington, Del.) recorded his first career hat trick to lead the Bryant University men's soccer team to a 4-1 victory over Central Connecticut and a berth in the upcoming Northeast Conference tournament on Sunday afternoon at the Bulldog Soccer Field.

With their victory over the previously unbeaten Blue Devils (9-8-1, 6-1 NEC), the Bulldogs (7-8-1, 4-2-1) secured their first-ever postseason berth at the Division I level. The Black and Gold will be the No. 3 seed in next weekend's tournament hosted by CCSU in New Britain, Conn. The NEC regular-season champion, CCSU will be the No. 1 seed, Saint Francis U. will be the No. 2 seed and the St. Francis Brooklyn is the No. 4 seed.

The Bulldogs honored their four-member senior class on Sunday prior to the game but it was the play of the junior Norat that turned the tide for the hosts. Held to just two goals and six points coming into the contest, the Wilmington, Del., native exploded for three markers. He struck first in the 21^st minute off a long throw-in from senior Nicholas Alberti (Marshfield, Mass.). Sophomore Teddy Spanos (Garden City, N.Y.) headed into the air and Norat rose high to head it over the keeper and into the back of the net.

Central Connecticut didn't waste very long responding, notching the equalizer just over three minutes later. Zach Zurita took a pass in front of the Bryant bench, worked his way to the middle of the field and fired a shot through traffic that hit off the hands of sophomore keeper Chris Knaub (Yarmouth, Maine) then off the crossbar and finally into the back of the net.

It was all Bulldogs from that point forward, however. Just over eight minutes later, Spanos was fouled in the box following a Bryant corner kick and awarded a penalty. Norat took the kick and deftly placed it inside the right post to the give the Black and Gold the lead for good.

Bryant put the game away in the second half with goals in the 68^th and 88^th minutes. Norat completed his hat trick in the 68^th off a beautiful feed from freshman Curtis Orth (Ancaster, Ont.). The rookie chipped it over the defender and Norat raced onto it and beat the keeper 1-on-1. Senior Joseph DiMauro (Middletown, Conn.) set up Bryant's final tally of the afternoon as he beat a defender along the endline before finding sophomore Brett Larocque (Ottawa, Ont.) on the doorstep for a quick one-time goal. It was Larocque's team-leading seventh goal of the season.

The Bulldogs played outstanding defensively as well, holding a potent Blue Devil attack to just six shots in the game, with only one finding the frame. Bryant also enjoyed a commanding lead in corner kicks, taking eight to Central Connecticut's one. It was also a chippy game that featured 30 combined fouls and three yellow cards.

Prior to the game, the Black and Gold honored their four-member senior class, Alberti, DiMauro, Tony Flaim (Fort Lee, N.J.) and Terrence Morrissey (Hingham, Mass.).

Riding a wave of momentum after victories over Fairleigh Dickinson and Central Connecticut, Bryant will now prepare for its first-ever postseason appearance at the Division I level. The Bulldogs will face second-seeded Saint Francis U. on Friday, Nov. 15 at a time to be determined.