Box
Score
NORTHFIELD, Vt. -
Sophomore F Julie Fortier scored a goal and dished out two assists
as the Norwich University women's ice hockey team defeated
Castleton State College, 5-1, in an ECAC East Tournament
quarterfinal game Saturday afternoon at Kreitzberg Arena.
Sophomore D Amanda Wilks added a goal
and two assists, and freshman D Brittany Casey chipped in a goal
and an assist to help pace the Cadets' offense. Junior G Cindy
Fortin stopped 14 of the 15 shots that she faced to lead the NU
defense.
The second-seeded Cadets (16-5-5) will
advance to the tournament's semifinals for the second straight
season. The semifinals, which will be hosted by top-seeded
Manhattanville College, will be contested next Saturday, March 6.
NU's opponent in its semifinal showdown will be third-seeded
UMass-Boston. The Cadets and Beacons split the regular season
series with each team winning on its home ice.
The other semifinal contest will feature top-seeded
Manhattanville College versus fifth-seeded New England College. The
winners of the two semifinal contests will meet on Sunday, March 7,
for the ECAC East Tournament title. Norwich won the event last
season, and the Cadets will be looking to make it two in a row next
weekend.
The seventh-seeded Spartans, who got a goal from Laura Szwed
late in the second period, conclude their season with an overall
record of 5-20-1.
Norwich got off to a fast start as Wilks scored her ninth marker
of the year at the 1:43 mark of the first period. The second-year
defenseman intercepted a pass as Castleton tried to clear its own
zone and she snapped a shot past CSC goaltender Amanda Hoy. The
Cadets made it 2-0 at 9:17 of the opening stanza when junior F
Kelsey Cone scored her ninth goal of the season off feeds from
Fortier and Casey.
The Cadets held an 11-3 edge in shots during the initial 20
minutes, and they carried a 2-0 advantage into the first
intermission.
Norwich added to its lead at the 5:42 mark of the second period
when Casey scored her second tally of the season off passes from
senior F Sophie Leclerc and junior F Sarah Scardino. The Cadets
made it 4-0 at 14:43 of the second period when sophomore F Felicia
Desorcie redirected a shot by Wilks past Hoy. Wilks and Fortier
picked up assists on the marker, which was Desorcie's third of the
season.
Castleton got on the scoreboard late in the middle frame when
Szwed netted her 10th of the season on a breakaway. Nicole Ruman
and Sterling Nelson were credited with assists on the play as they
helped spring Szwed in all alone on Fortin.
The Cadets enjoyed a 19-6 advantage in shots during the second
period, and they took a commanding 4-1 cushion into the final 20
minutes.
Norwich added an insurance tally midway through the third period
when Fortier scored her team-leading 20th goal of the season on a
five-on-three power play. Fortier took a pass from Wilks and ripped
a shot into the upper portion of the net to make it 5-1 at the
12:39 mark of the stanza.
NU dominated the third period, outshooting CSC by a 16-6 margin.
For the game, Norwich held a 46-15 advantage in shots. Hoy kept
the score respectable, making 41 saves in the contest. Several of
her stops came on point-blank attempts.
Norwich converted 2-of-4 power play chances, while Castleton
went 0-for-3 on the man-advantage.
