Box
Score
AMHERST, Mass. - The No. 2-ranked Amherst
College women's ice hockey team defeated Norwich University, 3-1,
Saturday evening in a non-conference contest at Orr Rink.
Just over one minute into the game a Norwich player was sent
into the penalty box and the nation's fifth-ranked power play unit
wasted no time putting Amherst (18-2-4) up 1-0. Just before the
power play expired, Stephanie Clegg dove to reach for a loose puck
and wrapped a shot around Norwich junior G Cindy Fortin. Assists on
the game's opening score came from Courtney Hanlon and Kate
Dennett.
With seven and a half minutes remaining in the first period
Norwich (14-5-5) tied the game 1-1 on an individual effort from
junior F Sarah Scardino. After crossing the Amherst blue line with
a head of steam, Scardino slowed at the left point and lashed a
wrist shot past the glove side of Amherst net minder Caroline Hu.
The score snapped a 231:43 personal shutout streak for Hu, who
entered the night leading the nation in goals-against average
(0.91). But Amherst needed just 1:54 to regain the lead at 2-1. The
go-ahead goal, and eventual game-winner, came off the stick of
Megan Curry on helpers from Dennett and Hanlon 14:26 into the
stanza.
The second period came and went without either team scoring
another goal, and the two goaltenders needing to make just six
saves apiece. Each team had a single penalty in the middle stanza,
but neither power play unit could break through.
Amherst took a 3-1 lead 5:12 into the third period as Dennett
dished out her third assist of the night on the power play. Dennett
dropped a pass down to Hanlon in the left circle, and the Amherst
leading goal-scorer turned and lifted her 13th goal of the year off
the bottom of the crossbar and in. A second assist on the goal went
to Randi Zukas.
With just 2:01 to play in the third, Zukas was sent to the
penalty box for cross-checking and Norwich pulled Fortin to finish
the game playing 6-on-4 hockey. The Amherst defense held up despite
a number of shots from close range in the final minutes, closing
out a 3-1 win.
Hu made 17 saves in the win, improving her record to 11-1-1 on
the year. Fortin's mark dropped to 5-5-5 for the season after the
Cadet backstop made 21 saves this evening.
Norwich will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 27, when the
second-seeded Cadets host an ECAC East Tournament quarterfinal game
at Kreitzberg Arena. The time and opponent for that contest will be
announced early next week.
