Box Score
Photo Gallery
Press Conference Quotes
SAINT PETER, Minn. – The No. 10-ranked
Norwich University women's ice hockey team saw its run
towards the 2010 NCAA National Championship come to an end Saturday
evening as the Cadets suffered a 7-2 setback to No. 1-ranked
Amherst College in the national title game at Don Roberts Ice Rink
on the campus of Gustavus Adolphus College.
The Cadets see their magical 2009-10 season end in defeat, but
the entire team has a great deal to be proud of. The squad set a
new program record for victories (20), and it made its first-ever
Frozen Four appearance.
It marks the second consecutive national title for Amherst
(23-2-4). The Lord Jeffs opened the scoring at 11:43 of the first
period when Geneva Lloyd wristed a shot from the top of the
left-hand faceoff circle past Norwich junior G Cindy Fortin. The
goal, which was assisted by Ellen Swiontkowski, was a laser that
beat Fortin high to the glove side.
The Cadets (20-6-5) received their first power play opportunity
of the contest late in the first period after Amherst's
Kirsten Dier was whistled for checking at the 15:28 mark. Norwich
enjoyed a couple of quality scoring chances on the man-advantage,
but Amherst goaltender Caroline Hu was able to thwart each one.
With less than one minute to play in the first period, Norwich
junior F Sarah Scardino had a shot from the slot area that was
ticketed for the upper right-hand corner of the cage, but Hu
reached up and snatched the puck with her glove.
Norwich outshot Amherst 7-4 in the opening frame, but the Lord
Jeffs skated into the intermission with a 1-0 edge on the
scoreboard.
Amherst doubled its lead early in the second period when Alyssa
Chwick scored at the 3:06 mark off assists from Swiontkowski and
Julia Koch. Chwick let a shot go from the right-hand faceoff circle
that Fortin seemed to play, but the puck bounced away from her and
trickled into the net to give the Lord Jeffs a 2-0 advantage.
Braidie Campbell made it 3-0 less than four minutes later when
she scored off a rebound at the 7:05 mark. Dier got the play
started when she fired a shot towards the Norwich cage. Fortin was
able to kick that attempt away, but Campbell was camped out just
outside of the crease to poke it into the net. Dier and Kock picked
up assists on the marker.
Norwich had two more power play chances in the second period,
but the Cadets were still unable to solve Hu, who made a couple of
big saves for Amherst.
Amherst held a 16-7 edge in shots during the second period, and
the Lord Jeffs carried a 3-0 lead into the final stanza.
Amherst's Stephanie Clegg scored a power play goal just 34
seconds into the third period to give the Lord Jeffs a 4-0 lead.
Courtney Hanlon and Randi Zukas were credited with assists on the
marker, which was scored while Amherst was on a two-man advantage.
The Lord Jeffs added another goal less than three minutes later
when Emily Vitale scored off an assist from Swiontkowski at the
3:07 mark.
Norwich broke up the shutout bid at 5:09 of the third period
when freshman D Brittany Casey scored her third goal of the year
off a pass from senior F Sophie Leclerc. Junior F Kelsey Cone also
picked up an assist on the goal, which was a blast from the middle
of the blue line.
The Cadets got another goal back at 9:41 of the third period
when senior F Katie Leupp tallied her third goal of the season on a
tip shot. Leclerc sent a wrist shot towards the net from the
right-hand faceoff circle that Leupp deftly deflected past Hu to
draw Norwich to within 5-2.
Amherst snuffed out any thought of an upset bid at the 14:09
mark when Vitale scored from close range off assists from Lloyd and
Swiontkowski. The Lord Jeffs capped the scoring at the 18:50 mark
of the third period when Molly Malloy tipped a shot past Fortin.
Zukas and Kate Dennett earned assists on the goal.
The game effectively ends the collegiate careers of Norwich
seniors Leclerc, Leupp and Shannon Silver. Each player was
instrumental in helping to usher the Cadets' program into the
varsity level, and they are a big reason why Norwich reached the
NCAA National Championship game in just three short seasons.
Leclerc ends her illustrious career as NU's all-time leader
in goals (46) assists (63) and points (109).
2010 NCAA Division III
Women's Ice Hockey All-Tournament Team
G – Caroline Hu, Jr., Amherst
D – Stephanie Clegg, So., Amherst
D – Kirsten Dier, Sr., Amherst
F – Kate Dennett, Sr., Amherst
F – Sophie Leclerc, Sr., Norwich
F – Lauryn DePaul, Sr., Elmira
