Women's Ice Hockey: Middlebury And Norwich Skate To 2-2 Tie

NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Ashley Bairos scored the game-tying goal with less than five minutes to play in the third period to help No. 7-ranked Middlebury College escape Kreitzberg Arena with a 2-2 tie against Norwich University in a non-conference women's ice hockey game Tuesday evening.

The Panthers trailed 2-0 after the first period, but they were able to chip away with single goals in the second and third periods to salvage the tie.

Norwich (14-4-5) broke on top 1-0 midway through the first period when sophomore F Julie Fortier scored her team-leading 18th goal of the season. Senior F Sophie Leclerc started the play when she zipped a pass from behind the net to Fortier, who was camped out in front of the cage. Fortier then slipped the puck past Middlebury goaltender Alexi Bloom to give the Cadets the lead at the 10:45 mark.

Norwich extended its advantage to 2-0 later in the first period when sophomore D Mollie Fitzpatrick ripped a slap shot from the left point past Bloom. Leclerc and junior F Kelsey Cone picked up assists on the play.

The Cadets enjoyed an 8-6 edge in shots during the opening 20 minutes, while the Panthers could not get much offense going.

Middlebury (14-5-3) got on the scoreboard at 13:48 of the second period when Ashley Bairos scored a power play goal. Madison Styrbicki and Libby Miner picked up assists on the goal, which was a shot from the left point.

The Panthers held a 15-9 edge in shots during the second period, as they began to turn up the pressure on Norwich junior G Cindy Fortin.

The teams went back and forth during the third period, but Middlebury was able to tie the game at the 15:45 mark when Bairos tallied her second marker of the contest off a rebound. Nora Bergman and Maria Bourdeau were credited with assists on the goal.

Both teams fired one shot on goal during the overtime period.

Middlebury outshot Norwich 33-27 in the game. The Panthers went 1-for-4 on the power play, while the Cadets were 0-for-3 with the man-advantage.

The Cadets will close out their 2009-10 regular season this weekend (Feb. 19-20), when the Cadets travel to take on Nichols College and Amherst College.

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