Video Highlights by Tanner Acebo, Norwich Sports Information

(Photo courtesy Sheridan Steiner/Norwich University)

NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University women's hockey team rebounded from losing its season opener in a big way as the Cadets edged the defending NCAA Division III national champions Elmira, 3-2 in the finale of the 2013 East/West Hockey Classic on Sunday afternoon at Kreitzberg Arena.

Senior forward Tori Charron (Tecumseh, Ontario) scored twice, while junior goalie Taylor Fairchild (Overland Park, Kan.) made 20 saves in her first NU career start to lead the Cadets to the victory.

After falling behind 1-0 just 33 seconds into the game on a goal by Elmira's Ashton Hogan off a faceoff, Norwich (1-1-0, 0-0-0 ECAC East) came storming back to scored three unanswered goals to take a 3-1 lead into the first intermission.

Junior forward Kaycie Anderson (Maple Plain, Minn.) got the offense rolling by tapping home a pass on a 2-on-1 rush from senior defenseman Brittany Sharman (Ayer's Cliff, Quebec) to knot it back up at 1 just 2:15 into the game.

Charron notched her first of the night at the 8:11 mark when she banged home a rebound off an initial shot by Rachel Bellio (Denver, Colo.) was stopped by Elmira goalie Lisa Marshall. Senior forward Emily MacKinnon (Kirkland, Quebec) also picked up an assist on the goal.

Charron struck again at the 12:44 mark with a terrific individual effort after receiving a long breakout pass from senior defenseman Kayla Parsons (Fairbanks, Alaska) on the right wing.

With an Elmira defender draped all over her, Charron snapped off a wrister that beat Marshall over the glove into the right top corner of the net while off balance to make it 3-1 Norwich.

Elmira cut the deficit back down to one at the 15:59 mark of the second period when Tanis Lamoureux scored off assists from Ashley Ryan and Erin Weston.

However, that's as close as Elmira would get despite the Soaring Eagles' best frantic efforts to tie it up in the third period.

Aided by the help of four power play opportunities, Elmira threw everything at Fairchild and the NU defense, outshooting them 9-2. But, the Cadets stood tall to stymie EC and send the defending champions home from the opening weekend of the season without a victory. Norwich's defense and penalty kill were brilliant in the third period, blocking shots and clogging passing lanes to keep the Soaring Eagles from netting the equalizer.

Norwich's Charron and Sharman were each named to the 2013 East/West Classic All-Tournament team. Plattsburgh's Bridget Balisy was named the Most Valuable Player after leading the Cardinals with three goals and one assist, including the game-winning goal in a 1-0 win over Manhattanville in the first game on Sunday. Balisy was joined by teammates Sydney Aveson and Allison Era. Elmira's Delainey and Manhattanville's Kirsten Shaughnessy rounded out the squad.

Norwich returns to action next Friday night when it hosts St. Michael's in its ECAC East league opener at 7 p.m. at Kreitzberg Arena. The Cadets then travel up to South Burlington on Saturday to take on the Purple Knights at 1 p.m. at Cairns Arena.

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