NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Kelsey Cone scored a pair of
goals and Emily Goff handed out three assists as the Norwich
University women's ice hockey team snapped its brief three-game
losing streak with a 4-2 victory over in-state rival Castleton
State in an ECAC East contest Friday night at Kreitzberg Arena.
The Cadets (10-9-2, 7-8-2 ECAC East) took a 1-0 lead late in the
first period when Cone scored her eighth goal of the season at the
18:28 mark. Annie Divito and Goff added assists on the play.
Norwich outshot Castleton State, 10-6, in the opening stanza,
and the Cadets carried their 1-0 advantage into the second period.
Norwich broke the game wide open with three goals in the final
5:11 of the second period. Cone added her second goal of the game,
and ninth of the year, at the 14:49 mark to push NU's lead to 2-0.
Ashley Cassan and Shannon McNulty picked up assists on the play.
The Cadets made it 3-0 just 54 seconds later when Katie Leupp
scored a power play goal at the 15:43 mark. Goff and Sarah Scardino
were credited with assists on the goal, which was Leupp's third of
the season. Norwich increased its lead to 4-0 in the final minute
when Scardino netted a power play goal of her own at the 19:38
mark. The tally, Scardino's eighth of the season, was assisted by
Goff and Sophie Leclerc.
The Cadets outshot the Spartans, 16-6, in the second frame.
The Spartans (5-14-4, 4-10-4 ECAC East) got on the scoreboard
midway through the third period when Nicole Adams netted her fourth
goal of the year at the 13:12 mark. Castleton State pulled to
within 4-2 a little more than two minutes later when Steph Purinton
scored her fifth goal of the season at the 15:34 mark. That was as
close as the Spartans would get, however, as the Cadets held on for
the victory.
Norwich held an 18-7 edge in shots in the third period and
finished the game with a commanding 44-19 lead in that department.
Cindy Fortin stopped 17 shots to earn the victory between the
pipes for Norwich. Vanessa Carter stopped 40 shots in a losing
effort for Castleton State.
The Cadets will return to the ice at Kreitzberg Arena on
Saturday, Feb. 22, when they take on ECAC East rival Plymouth State
at 3 p.m. The contest marks Norwich's regular season home finale,
and the team will salute its five seniors-Courtney Miniter, Hilary
Davis, Amanda Gage, Melissa Bocash and Kate Barrett-in a ceremony
prior to faceoff.
