NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University women's ice hockey team picked up its second straight victory over Castleton University with a 2-0 shutout victory over the Spartans at Kreitzberg Arena on Friday night. 

Freshman goalie Leocadia Clark (Stowe, Vt.) stopped all 12 shots she faced to record her first collegiate shutout and improve to 2-0-0 on the season. 

Norwich (2-1) got goals from senior forward KC Herne (Akwesasne, Quebec) and freshman Nikki LaGue (Barre, Vt.) as the Cadets picked up their second-straight one goal victory over Castleton after dropping the season opener last Friday in Northfield. 

After a scoreless opening period, the Cadets struck twice on the power play in a span of 47 seconds to seize control of the game. Nikki LaGue scored her first collegiate goal firing a shot from the point that redirected off a Castleton player in front of the net to open the scoring. Senior defenseman Samantha Benoit (Bow, N.H.) and Nikki's sister Ally LaGue (Barre, Vt.) recorded assists on the goal. 

Norwich scored again just 47 seconds later with Herne beating Castleton goalie Kirsten DiCicco five-hole for her first goal of the season and team-leading third point. Sophomore forward Ann-Frederique Guay (St. Lambert-de-Lauzon, Quebec) fired a centering pass from the corner boards towards freshman Melianne Reynolds (Sherbrooke, Quebec) in front of the net. Reynolds got a piece of the puck and then it trickled over to Herne, who fired it past DiCicco for the goal. 

That would all the offense the Cadets would need as the defense and Clark made the lead stand up from there, shutting down the Spartans' offense.

Norwich outshot Castleton 39-12, including a 37-8 advantage after two periods. 

All three meetings between Norwich and Castleton have been decided by one or two goals so far this season. The Cadets and Spartans play their fourth straight game against each other on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Spartan Arena.