HENNIKER, N.H.- The Norwich Women's Ice Hockey team returned to action for the first time in ten days Tuesday night with a trip to Lee Clement Arena to take on travel partner New England College with first year goaltender Payton Sutherland (Brighton, Colo.) making her collegiate debut between the pipes.

Norwich looked to establish dominance early in the contest, outshooting the Pilgrims 5-0 eight minutes in, as well as a chance that caught the post. On their sixth shot, nine minutes in, the Cadets would break through. After Norwich kept the play alive at the blueline, Marja Linzbichler (Graz, Austria) would circle around the zone and leave the puck for Tristina Doyle (Cape Coral, Fla.) at the right point. Doyle sent the puck to the boards for Rylie McIntyre (Brunswick, Maine). McIntyre's shot from the boards careened off a Pilgrim defender in front and into the back of the net to put Norwich ahead with Doyle recording her first collegiate point.

Even though the Cadets kept buzzing around their offensive zone, NEC broke through with their first shot at the 11:26 mark. Two minutes later, off a faceoff win, Samantha Babbitt collected the lose puck, skated towards the middle, and put the Pilgrims' second shot of the game by Sutherland's glove tying the game. The tie lasted all of 20 seconds. Off the faceoff, the Cadets had a furious flurry of chances. NEC attempted to clear the puck out of danger, but it was kept alive by Olivia Boyer (Saint Paul. Minn.) who sent it to the left boards for Aimee Headland (Nottingham, U.K.). Headland sent it to the center blue line for Doyle whose wrist shot found its way by Pilgrim netminder Amy Donnelly to put Norwich ahead again. The Cadets kept the pressure on as they looked to double their lead going into the first intermission but could not find a way by Donnelly who kept the game at one score despite the 16-2 shots on goal margin.

The second period saw Norwich keeping their foot on the gas pedal looking to take firm control of the game, but they were turned away at every turn by Donnelly who kept the Pilgrims in the game. Even when NEC went on the powerplay halfway through the period, the Cadets held the puck the whole time. Towards the end of the second period, the Cadets went on the powerplay for the first time. They generated three shots, but still could not solve Donnelly who kept the score 2-1 after 40 minutes with Norwich outshooting NEC 17-2 in the period, 33-4 overall.

The third period saw more territorial domination by the Cadets, who had three of the first four shots in the frame. But, sensing the opportunity, the Pilgrims began a brief press in search of the tie, but Sutherland stopped them. Later in the period, Norwich finally broke through to extend their lead. With six minutes left to play, NEC iced the puck granting the Cadets an offensive zone faceoff. Off the draw, won by Boyer, the puck came to Headland who moved towards the middle and put a wrist shot on that found its way through traffic and into the back of the net giving Norwich some breathing room down the stretch. Looking to get back in the game, the Pilgrims were granted another powerplay, but any attempt was smothered by the Cadet penalty kill. Norwich kept the puck in their offensive end preventing Donnelly from getting pulled, leading the Cadets to their sixth win in their last seven games and Sutherland's first career victory.

"It was nice to compete again after a long break," said Head Coach Sophie Leclerc Doherty. "New England competed hard and challenged us until the buzzer. We were able to sustain a ton of o-zone time, but, ultimately, we need to convert on our opportunities."

Up next, the Cadets will open the 13^th Annual East-West Classic on their home ice where they will host a rematch with Plattsburgh State on Dec 9 at 3 PM.