NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Jim Koehler scored a hat trick to lead the Norwich men's ice hockey team past UMass-Boston, 8-2, in the quarterfinals of the ECAC East Tournament. The Cadets (20-6-0) scored three goals in the first and third periods to earn the right to host the ECAC East Final Four next weekend at Kreitzberg Arena. UMass-Boston, meanwhile, closes the season with an overall mark of 5-20-1.

The Beacons opened the scoring two and a half minutes into the opening period as Michael Muolo silenced the crowd with a power-play goal off assists from Marcus Fajardo and Adam Larrabee. It only took 23 seconds for the Norwich faithful to come back to life as Koehler tallied his first goal with Rick Cleaver and Eric Lauriault assisting. The Cadets took the lead for good at the 5:00 mark as Lauriault scored a power-play goal off an assist from Phil Sbrocchi for a 2-1 lead. NU's Nikita Kashirsky extended the lead to 3-1 midway through the period as he teamed up with Raphael Robitaille.

Norwich's James Duhammel opened the second period scoring with a goal off a face-off with an assist from C.J. Viso for a 4-1 advantage. Koehler's second goal came at the 13:23 mark as he teamed up once again with Cleaver and Lauriault. The period ended with the Cadets on top, 5-1.

The first goal of the third period went to Cleaver as he gave Norwich a 6-1 lead with Lauriault assisting three minutes in. The Beacons countered two minutes later as Steve Ebbole found the back of the net off the assist of Russ Peterson. Koehler's hat trick came 35 seconds later as Cleaver and Lauriault once again provided the assist. Robitaille tallied the final goal of the night at the 6:26 mark off the assist of Tyler Stitt and DJ Fimiani and Norwich advanced to the ECAC East semis with the 8-2 final.

The Cadets outshot the Beacons, 42-16. Norwich goaltender David Thompson collected 14 saves, while UMass-Boston goalies Ryan Donovan and Chris Testa combined for 34 saves.

In other ECAC East quarterfinal games, #2 seed New England got by #7 Salem State, 4-3. Fifth-seed Castleton State won at fourth-seed Southern Maine, 3-2, in overtime, while #6 seed Babson also won in overtime at #3 seed Skidmore, 5-4.

Norwich will battle Babson in the first semifinal game at 3 p.m., while New England and Castleton State will meet at 6 p.m. The winners will meet in Sunday's championship game at 3 p.m.