NORTHFIELD, Vt.- After opening their regular season on the road, the Norwich Men's Ice Hockey team opened New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) play by hosting Albertus Magnus Friday night in the first ever meeting between the two programs.

After an early penalty kill by the Cadets, play resumed with Sami Molu (Toronto, On.) making several saves through several stoppages. Norwich would get chances of their own, and eventually convert. Bryan O'Mara (Syracuse, N.Y.) forced a Falcons turnover at center ice, where Ben van Waterschoot (Whitby, On.) would take possession and gain the offensive zone. His original shot was stopped by Chace Hale, before Nick Cordeiro (Mississauga, On.) picked up the loose rebound at the net mouth to give the Cadets the lead and triggering the Darn Tough sock toss. Three and a half minutes later, Albertus answered with a Caden Pattison goal tying the contest at one heading into intermission.

Five minutes into the second period Norwich regained the lead. Cooper Bertrand (Caledon, On.) had the initial shot that sailed wide, which was collected by Anthony Domina (Odenton, Md.) behind the net who put the puck in front for Owen Sclisizzi (Milton, On.). With a yawning cage in front of him, Sclisizzi jammed it home giving Domina his first collegiate point. The rest of the period was dominated by the maroon and gold, but they could not break through as Albertus kept it a one goal margin at the break despite being outshot 18-4 in the frame.

Norwich continued to ride the momentum early in the third, where they would extend their lead. Fresh off the bench, Johnny Johnson (Naperville, Ill.) sent the puck to the middle for Clark Kerner (Kansas City, Kan.). Kerner poked the puck ahead to Kyle Kudrna (Bartlett, Ill.) as he gained an attacking zone before rifling a wrist shot passed Hale's blocker to push the lead to two for Kudrna's first collegiate goal.

Soon after, the Falcons would tie the came with goals on consecutive powerplays a minute and a half apart. Three minutes after the game was even, the Cadets retook the lead. Bertrand won a board battle before Zach Ophoven (Burlington, On.) sent it to the blueline for Matt Harvey (Fort Covington, N.Y.). Harvey's wrist shot went through the legs of Hale to the back of the net for the eventual game winner. After coincidental minors, Albertus pulled Hale seeing the equalizer with the Norwich defense suppressing chances, and Domina coming up with several key defensive zone faceoff wins late to preserve the 4-3 victory.

Norwich and Albertus will close out the two game series Saturday afternoon Nov. 9 at 4 PM.