Box Score
Video Highlights by Tanner Acebo, Multimedia Specialist
NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Sophomore forward Bryn Labbe (Calgary, Alberta) notched her second career hat trick to lead the Norwich University women's ice hockey team to a 5-0 victory over Amherst College on Wednesday night in non-conference action at Kreitzberg Arena.
Junior goalie Laurie King (Waddington, N.Y.) made 31 saves to record her fourth shutout of the season and 11th of her career.
Labbe opened the scoring just 56 seconds into the game and the Cadets never looked back as they improved to 8-4-0 all-time vs. Amherst. Labbe slapped home a loose puck in the crease after a pass from behind the net by Adelle Murphy (Roseau, Minn.) that fluttered into the air and then landed right on the side of the net.
No. 4/5 nationally-ranked Norwich (7-1-1, 6-0-0 NEHC) had to withstand a barrage of Amherst shots in the middle of the first period after the Cadets were whistled for three penalties, including two quick ones that resulted in 1:20 of 5-on-3 power play time for Amherst.
However, King and the NU defense were fantastic to turn away every Amherst chance. At one point in the first period, Amherst was outshooting Norwich 12-2.
The Cadets increased the lead to 2-0 at the 18:03 mark of the first period with junior Maki Shuchuk (Madison, Wis.) burying her second goal of the year off assists from Muranda Toews (Grand Prairie, Alberta) and Sarah Schwenzfeier (Hingham, Mass.). Toews had an initial shot block from the corner but the rebound kicked out to Shuchuk at the high slot and she slapped the puck through Sabrina Dobbins' five-hole.
Norwich added to its lead in the second period with Labbe scoring her second of the game and fourth of the season on assists from Murphy and Linnea Odbratt (Gothenburg, Sweden).
The Cadets added two more insurance tallies in the third period with Adrieana Rossini (Malden, Mass.) and Labbe scoring.
Rossini scored her third of the year and second in as many games as the reigning NEHC Player of the Week one-time backhanded a deflection past Dobbins off a pass from behind the net by Schwenzfeier. Junior defenseman Kim Tiberi (Raleigh, N.C.) tallied her team-leading 12th assist as well on the goal.
Labbe capped her hat trick at the 15:48 mark with rebound shorthanded goal after Dobbins made an initial save on Rossini. Rossini made a nice play in the Cadets' defensive zone to strip an Amherst player of the puck, kick to ahead and create a 2-on-1 rush going the other way.
Norwich travels to Bowdoin College on Saturday for a 7 p.m. non-conference matchup with the Polar Bears to close out the 2016-portion of the Cadets' schedule.
