NORTHFIELD, Vt. - The Norwich University
women's ice hockey team won its second straight game on Saturday
afternoon, defeating ECAC East rival Plymouth State, 4-1, at
Kreitzberg Arena. With the victory, the Cadets improve to 11-9-2
(8-8-2 ECAC East). The Panthers end their season with a winless
record of 0-20-1 (0-18-1 ECAC East).
Katie Leupp opened the scoring for Norwich at the 11:45 mark of
the first period, scoring a power play goal off assists from
Shannon McNulty and Sophie Leclerc. The Cadets outshot the Panthers
20-3 in the opening stanza, but they were unable to push anything
else across and settled for a 1-0 lead heading into the second
frame.
Amanda Gage doubled NU's lead, scoring what proved to be the
game-winning goal at 5:50 of the second off of assists from Hilary
Davis and Melissa Bocash. It is fitting that three members of the
Cadets' senior class combined on the game-winning tally, since it
was Senior Day for the team.
Kelsey Cone netted her third goal of the weekend, and 10th of
the season, less than three minutes later when she tallied a power
play goal at the 8:23 mark. Leclerc and Gage each picked up assists
on the goal, which increased Norwich's lead to 3-0.
Plymouth State got on the scoreboard near the midway point of
the second period when Liz Sousa netted her first goal of the
season at the 10:23 mark.
Sarah Scardino rounded out the scoring for the Cadets, as the
freshman tallied her ninth goal of the year at the 8:56 mark of the
third period off of assists from Leupp and Leclerc.
Norwich outshot Plymouth State 46-8 for the game. Senior
goaltender Courtney Miniter picked up her first career win between
the pipes, making seven saves to earn the victory.
Gage, Davis, Bocash, Miniter and Kate Barrett were all honored
prior to the game in a special "Senior Salute" for all that they've
given to the Norwich women's hockey program over the past four
years.
Norwich will close out its 2007-08 regular season on Sunday,
Feb. 24, when the Cadets travel to Newport, R.I., to battle Salve
Regina at 2 p.m.
