NORTHFIELD, Vt.- The Norwich Women's Ice Hockey team opened the 2025 potion of their schedule by handing previously undefeated third ranked Amherst their first loss of the season Sunday afternoon to open the 14^th annual East West Classic at Kreitzberg Arena on the back of a clutch third period powerplay goal from Jenna Nikles (Riley, Mich.).

In a matchup between two of the top defensive teams in Division III, the opening stanza did not have much in terms of shots toward Leocadia Clark (Stowe, Vt.) or Natalie Stott, with both teams keeping each other to the outside with minimal high danger chances. The middle frame followed the same narrative, including a successful Amherst penalty kill, until the Cadets would become the first to break through late.

With just over five minutes left, Olivia Boyer (Saint Paul, Minn.) won an offensive zone faceoff with Rylie McIntyre (Brunswick, Maine) tapping the loose puck to the left point to Olivia King (Old Town, Maine). King passed it along the blueline to defense partner Jordan Brady (Green Bay, Wis.) who sent a wrist shot from the right point through traffic for the icebreaker. The Mammoths pressed late but Clark preserved the one goal lead at the break.

Amherst carried that momentum into the third period seeking the equalizer. Six minutes in, they would go to their lone man advantage of the contest where they would capitalize. After a faceoff win, the original shot got blocked, but the puck found Marie-Eve Marleau whose shot found its way through traffic tying the game.

Two minutes later, the Cadets would catch a break when the Mammoths got caught for too many players on the ice. After losing the draw, Boyer blocked down a clearing attempt and sent the puck to King at the left point. She would exchange passes with Anna Lisac (Euclid, Ohio) before Lisac sent the puck from the half wall cross ice to Nikles for the one timer for the eventual game winning tally just before the halfway mark.

As the game wound down, the Cadets stifled the Mammoths, not allowing them to get set up and kept the attempts towards Clark at a minimum. In the dying seconds, Lauren Tuzik (Frankfort, Ill.) picked the pocket of an Amherst attacker and got the puck to Breanna Ricker (Laconia, N.H.) sending it the length of the ice for the empty netter sealing the 3-1 victory.

"It was an incredible team effort tonight," said Head Coach Sophie Leclerc Doherty. "From start to finish everyone was having fun pulling the rope together. I'm proud of the way we competed and united as a group and am looking forward to game two tomorrow."

The victory earns Norwich a berth in the East West Classic Championship game for the second straight season. In the contest, the Cadets will meet regional rival Plattsburgh State for the second time this season. Plattsburgh State advances after they shutout Nazareth 2-0. The championship game is set for 4 PM on Jan. 6 following the Amherst vs. Nazareth contest in the consolation game.