Box Score FRANKLIN, Mass.- The Dean College Bulldogs men's soccer team secured a crucial home victory over Norwich University on Wednesday, 2-0 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action at Longley Field. 

First-year Clay Tyler (Attleboro, Mass.) wasted little time making an initial impression. In his first action of the season, the rookie forward broke the 0-0 stalemate with a cross into the box to teammate Ciaran Phibbs (Yonkers, N.Y.) that Phibbs buried left-footed into the back of the net. Moments later, Tyler snuck through the defense and sailed a twisting shot passed the keeper to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 advantage, and what proved to be the deciding score. 

After a scoreless first half, Phibbs found the back of the net in the 47th minute, just after halftime. Tyler's goal, an unassisted marker, followed less than 60 seconds later, in the 48th minute. Norwich would not go quietly, however. The Cadets peppered Dean goalie Jake Godwin (Norwalk, Conn.) throughout the second half, and eventually found the back of the net on a decisive strike from Diego Fuentes, assisted by Judah Adams in the 62nd minute. Trailing 2-1 for the final 28 minutes, the Cadets put the pressure on, but Dean's defense held strong, anchored by strong goal-tending from Godwin to preserve the critical GNAC victory. 

Godwin made six saves in 90 minutes in the goal, returning from a two-game hiatus. Senior Sean Doherty (Chelmsford, Mass.) and junior Jake Richard (Townsend, Mass.) took three and two shots, respectively. The goal for Phibbs was his second in as many games. Tyler's points were his first two of his career. 

The win for Dean (3-7-1 overall, 2-5-1 GNAC) was crucial as the Bulldogs jockey for playoff positoning in a crowded conference field. Next up for Dean, a road matchup with Rivier on Saturday at noon in Nashua, N.H.