WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla.- To kickoff the Sunshine Turkey Classic, the Norwich Women's Ice Hockey team took the ice against Utica in what was the first ever game of Division III Women's Ice Hockey to be played in the State of Florida in the first matchup between the two programs since Jan. 10, 2016.

As fans were just getting warm in their seats, the Cadets jumped ahead. After a defensive zone turnover by the Pioneers, Breanna Ricker (Laconia, N.H.) took control, collected her own rebound twice and scored on her third chance just 40 seconds into the contest.

Both sides kept each other from generating offense, until Utica was able to tie the game just past the halfway point. After the Pioneers won a board battle, Ally Nolan would bury her own rebound in close to even the score. Late in the period, Norwich would take over the territorial play, including numerous chances for Livia Brooks (Walpole, Mass.) including a penalty shot that was turned aside by Pioneer goaltender Angela Hawthorne to keep the game tied at one after one.

Norwich picked up where they left off early in the second, but Utica responded by testing Leocadia Clark (Stowe, Vt.). Neither Clark nor Hawthorne blinked in the middle frame as the score remained tied after forty minutes. The goalie duel continued into the third period, as the two teams traded chances looking to jump ahead. With under five minutes left, the Pioneers sprung on a rush out of the defensive zone and Kelsey Elliott would score on the break to put Utica ahead, before sinking the empty netter late.

With the defeat, the thirteenth ranked Cadets will face twelfth ranked Trinity in the Sunshine Turkey Classic Consolation game on Nov. 30 at 1 PM, which is followed by the championship game featuring Utica and Adrian.