Box Score
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – The
No. 1-ranked Norwich University men's ice hockey team has
advanced to the NCAA Division III national championship game for
the first time since 2003 after knocking off fifth-ranked
Plattsburgh State University, 3-2, in a national semifinal contest
Friday evening at Herb Brooks Arena.
The Cadets (25-1-4) will play third-ranked St. Norbert (24-3-3)
in the national title game after the Green Knights defeated
second-ranked Oswego State (26-3-0) in the early semifinal contest
by the score of 4-3. Norwich and St. Norbert will squared off for
the national championship on Saturday, March 20, at 5 p.m. The game
will be televised nationally by CBS College Sports Network. The
game will also be available on the radio (WDEV FM 96.1/AM 550) and
online (www.cadetsradio.com).
Norwich got on the scoreboard first tonight when senior F Craig
Serino scored at 5:24 of the first period off assists from
linemates Colin Mulvey and D.J. Fimiani. The marker was
Serino's sixth of the season.
The Cadets enjoyed a 10-9 edge in shots during the opening 20
minutes, and they carried their 1-0 edge into the first
intermission.
Plattsburgh State (19-6-4) tied the score at 1-1 midway through
the second period when Andrew Willock netted his seventh marker of
the year off assists from Eric Satim and Dylan Clarke at the 7:07
mark.
Norwich broke the 1-1 tie late in the second stanza when
freshman F Pier-Oliver Cotnoir scored his 12th goal of the year at
the 19:04 mark off a feed from Serino.
The Cadets made it 3-1 midway through the third period when
senior D Steve Coon scored an unassisted goal at the 8:09 mark. It
was Coon's second tally of the season.
Plattsburgh State climbed to within 3-2 at the 13:30 mark when
Mike Kavanaugh scored off passes from Matt Bessing and Chris
Wieland, but the Cardinals were not able to tally the equalizer.
The Cardinals held a 15-9 edge in shots during the third period,
but Norwich senior G Ryan Klingensmith was up able to stand tall in
the Cadets' cage to preserve the victory. The Morton, Pa.,
product finished with 29 saves to earn the win between the pipes
for the Cadets. Plattsburgh State goalie Josh Leis stopped 32 shots
in the loss.
Plattsburgh State pulled Leis for the final 1:15, but the
Cardinals could not get another goal past Klingensmith.
NU outshot PSU 35-31 in the game. The Cadets went 0-for-5 on the
power play, while the Cardinals were 0-for-4 on the man-advantage.
Norwich and St. Norbert will be meeting in the NCAA Tournament
for the third time. The Cadets defeated the Green Knights en route
to their 2003 national championship. St. Norbert, meanwhile,
knocked off Norwich on its way to the 2008 national title. The
Cadets are 2-1 all-time in the NCAA Tournament championship game,
winning titles in 2000 and 2003. They lost in the national title
game in 2002.
