RUTLAND, Vt. - The Norwich University women's ice hockey team closed out the 2021 season with its seventh straight victory with a 4-0 win over Castleton on Saturday afternoon at Spartan Arena.

Senior defenseman Samantha Benoit (Bow, N.H.) notched two assists to become the 12th player in Norwich University women's hockey history to reach 100 career points. Benoit is just the second defenseman in program history to earn the honor, finishing her career with 16 goals and 84 assists for 100 points in 96 games. Benoit's 84 assists rank third in program history, trailing only Sophie Leclerc's '10 program-record 91 assists and Sophie McGovern's '20 85, which ranks second all-time. 

After a scoreless first period, Silvia Bjorgvinsdottir (Akureyri, Iceland) finally opened the scoring at the 1:08 mark of the second period with a power play goal off assists from Ally LaGue (Barre, Vt.) and Benoit. 

Senior forward KC Herne (Akwesasne, Quebec) scored her second goal of the season at the 5:14 mark of the second period, scoring from the middle of the slot off a pass from behind the net by Ingrid Holstad-Berge (Stavanger, Norway) and a secondary helper from Ann-Frederique Guay (St. Lambert-de-Lauzon, Quebec). 

Freshman forward Melianne Reynolds (Sherbrooke, Quebec) scored her third goal of the season off an assist from Kenady Nevicosi (Breckenridge, Colo.) to stretch the Cadets' lead to 3-0 at 10:33 of the middle frame.

Holstad-Berge capped the scoring at the 15:02 mark with Benoit picking up the primary assist to reach the career milestone. Guay also picked up an assist on the goal for her sixth assist of the year. 

Freshman Leocadia Clark (Stowe, Vt.) made her second straight start, stopping all 23 shots she faced to earn her second career shutout and improved to 5-0-0. 

Saturday's game marked the final time for Benoit and Herne in Norwich uniforms.