Box Score NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University women's ice hockey team won its 2017-18 home opener in convincing fashion with a 6-0 victory over Plymouth State on Friday night at Kreitzberg Arena.
Norwich (5-0-1, 3-0-0 NEHC) got a goal and two assists from senior defenseman Kim Tiberi (Raleigh, N.C.) to lead the offense as 12 different skaters got on the scoresheet for the Cadets.
Senior goalie Laurie King (Waddington, N.Y.) made 15 saves, including 10 in the first period to earn her 16th career shutout and move within one of tying Celeste Robert '17 for the program all-time record.
After a scoreless first period where Plymouth State (1-2-1, 1-1-1 NEHC) actually outshot Norwich 10-9, the Cadets finally broke through at the 6:13 mark of the second period with a power play goal by sophomore Alyssa Hulst (Scarborough, Maine) and then never looked back.
Hulst tipped an initial shot by Carly Menges (Novelty, Ohio) from the point past Plymouth State goalie Emelie Lindqvist for her fourth power play goal of the season. Tiberi also notched her first point on the night.
Norwich made it 2-0 at the 10:48 mark of the second period with Maki Shuchuk (Madison, Wis.) scoring her team-leading fifth goal, potting a pass from Sarah Schwenzfeier (Hingham, Mass.) into the bottom right corner of the net with a quick release shot.
Senior forward Nicole Goebel (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) increased the lead to 3-0 at the 18:59 mark of the second period with a beautiful tip into the top corner of the net on the power play off an initial shot by Robyn Foley (Goulds, Newfoundland and Labrador). Samantha Benoit (Bow, N.H.) also picked up the secondary assist on the goal.
The Cadets poured in three more goals in the third period with Tiberi, Muranda Toews (Grand Prairie, Alberta) and Kirsten Watts (Chugiak, Alaska) all scoring goals.
Tiberi beat Lindqvist with a low shot that hit the inside of the post as she was crossing through the slot for her first goal of the season.
Toews scored at the 19:06 mark of the third period off assists from Desirae Kuhlmann (Swift Current, Saskatchewan) and Tiberi.
Watts capped the scoring at the 19:33 mark, scoring off a pass from freshman forward KC Herne (Akwesasne, N.Y.).
Norwich outshot Plymouth State 55-15, including a 46-5 advantage in the final 40 minutes.
Norwich's six-game unbeaten streak to start the season is the third longest in program history. The Cadets were originally scheduled to host New England College on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. but the game has been postponed to a later date.
NU will next be in action on Tuesday, Nov. 14 when it hosts Castleton University at 7 p.m. in Kreitzberg Arena.
