(Release courtesy Southern Maine Sports Information)

GORHAM, Maine -- The Norwich University women's ice hockey team skated to a 1-1 draw with the Univ. of Southern Maine on Friday night at the USM Ice Arena.

USM junior goalie Nia Kelly stopped 37 shots as the Huskies picked up their first point against the Cadets since 2008, and improved their record to 7-13-2 overall and 5-7-2 in the league. The league-leading Cadets moved to 14-4-3 overall and 11-0-2 in conference play.  The Cadets, who shut out the Huskies at home in November, now lead the all-time series 18-1-2.

Kelly protected a 1-0 lead into the late stages of the game before rookie Erin Joyce (Manchester, N.H.) tipped a high pass from junior Taylor Cross (Saugus, Mass.) out of the air and past Kelly for her ninth goal of the season with 2:26 remaining in regulation.  Kelly later stoned Joyce, who had the lone shot on goal in overtime, from 15 feet out to preserve the tie.

Southern Maine had a good first period that resulted in some excellent scoring opportunities.  Sophomore Lynn Kozlowski hit the back of the net when she went in on a breakaway shortly after the Huskies finished killing off a penalty.  Junior Cassandra Sherman, who just came out of the box, broke up a Cadet play at the USM blue line and sent Kozlowski away for the lone assist.  The goal came at 7:07 of the frame.

Kozlowski and sophomore Katie Couture had good scoring bids in the opening stanza, but Norwich senior goalie Loren Carrier (Chandler, Ariz.) proved equal to the task and kept the game at 1-0.  Carrier would finish the game with 11 saves.

Momentum began to swing in the second period as the Cadets turned up the pressure, out shooting the Huskies 15-6 in the period, but Kelly stopped everything.

Norwich piled up a 38-12 advantage in shots on goal over the course of the game.  The visitors had a golden opportunity in the third period when they had a 5-on-3 advantage for 37 seconds midway through the period as the Huskies were hit with a pair of minor penalties.  The USM penalty killers did the job to protect the lead.  USM killed all five Norwich power plays in the game, including four in the third period.

Southern Maine is back in action Saturday afternoon (1:00 p.m.) hosting Castleton State College.  Norwich is back in action tomorrow (3:00 p.m.) with a game at the University of New England.

-CADETS-