AMHERST, Mass. – Senior defenseman Brittany Sharman (Ayer's Cliff, Quebec) scored a goal and added an assist, while junior goalie Loren Carrier (Chandler, Ariz.) made 13 saves to lead the Norwich University women's ice hockey team to a 2-1 win over Amherst College on Tuesday night in non-conference action at Orr Rink
No. 4-ranked Norwich (15-3-0, 10-0-0 ECAC East) won its sixth straight game and swept the season series from the Lord Jeffs after the Cadets won 4-3 earlier this season on Dec. 8 at Kreitzberg Arena.
The Cadets took advantage of a power play opportunity in the first period when a slap shot by Sharman from inside the blue line was deflected by Emily MacKinnon (Kirkland, Quebec), who was standing in front of the net. MacKinnon's deflection redirected the puck and found the back of the net to give Norwich a 1-0 lead at the 14:57 mark.
Amherst retaliated early in the second frame during its first power play opportunity. At the 2:45 mark, junior Emily Flom received a pass from freshman Caitlyn Ryan and sent a slap shot from inside the center blue line past Carrier to knot the score at 1-1. Sophomore Eileen Harris was also credited with an assist on the play.
However, the Cadets regained the lead minutes later when Sharman skated all alone in front of the net and scored unassisted at the 8:32 mark.
With less than five minutes remaining in regulation, Amherst's leader in assists sophomore Erin Martin, dished it forward to junior Tori Salmon, the leading goal scorer, who had a clear path to the net. Salmon sent one towards Carrier but the Norwich goalie reached up to make the glove save and disrupt the Jeffs' scoring chance.
Amherst pulled its goalie in the final minute but couldn't capitalize on the player advantage as Norwich held on for its fifth straight victory over Amherst.
Both teams went 1-for-2 on power plays, but the Cadets held a 21-14 edge in shots. Carrier finished with 13 saves on the day to improve to 6-1-0 and Jeff senior goalie Kerri Stuart finished with 19 stops.
Norwich finally returns home this weekend after opening the 2014 portion of its schedule with eight straight road games. The Cadets will host Southern Maine on Friday at 5:30 p.m. and then face Plymouth State on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
