GORHAM, Maine – With senior captain and leading-scorer Sophie Leclerc scratched from the lineup, Norwich needed to look elsewhere for a spark.

Enter Jacqueline Perez.

Perez, a sophomore from San Gabriel, Calif., had yet to register a point coming into Saturday's game with Southern Maine.

However, she took full advantage of her late insert into the lineup, scoring two goals, including the game winner to lead Norwich to a 5-3 win over the Huskies at USM Ice Arena in ECAC East action.

The Huskies (1-1-1, 1-1-1 ECAC East) jumped on top with their first shot of game as Erin Banfield, (sister of NU's Caitie Banfield) beat Norwich goaltender Cindy Fortin blocker side to give Southern Maine a 1-0 lead just 3:21 into the game. Banfield gathered the puck at the blue line and then let go of a wrist shot that Fortin got a piece of, however it wasn't enough and the puck settled into the back of the net.

The Cadets (5-1, 4-0 ECAC East) answered right back though when Perez tallied her first goal of the season by beating USM's Jackie Zarb glove side on a wrist shot to level the score at one.

Melissa Rundlett gave NU the lead just under three minutes later when she skated in from the wing and beat Zarb before she could close the hole between her arm and body to give the Cadets their second goal on just three shots.

USM coach John Lauziere elected to pull Zarb and replace her with Jordan Lee.

Lee made a couple of key saves to keep Norwich off the board until sophomore F Jillyane DeBus walked out from behind the net, cut to the front of the crease and beat Lee short side and high to give the Cadets a 3-1 lead with 7:56 remaining in the first.

DeBus' goal was the first of three straight power play goals for the Cadets, who finished an impressive 7-for-11 with the extra attacker on the weekend.

Perez added her second tally of the game at the 6:44 mark of the second period with a pretty tip from the hash marks that beat Lee high to the far post.

Rundlett added her second goal of the game on when she redirected a low shot from Amanda Wilks at the blue line to put the Cadets up 5-1 with 1:19 left in the period.

Southern Maine stormed back in the third period with a pair of goals from Kailey Bubier. However, the Cadets held on for the 5-3 win to stay unbeaten in league play and run their winning streak to five straight.

Fortin made seven saves to pick up her third win of the season and improve to 3-1. Lee picked up the loss for the Huskies after turning away 31 shots.

Norwich will return home to Kreitzberg Arena next weekend when the Cadets host UMass-Boston on Saturday at 1 p.m. NU will follow up with St. Anselm at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Both are ECAC East contests.