NORTHFIELD, Vt.- The Norwich Women's Ice Hockey team erupted offensively Saturday afternoon in an 8-0 shutout of Salem State for their ninth straight win, locking up first place in the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC).

All eight goals had different scorers, including the first collegiate goals for first year forwards Grace McClusky (Annapolis, Md.) and Julia Richardson (Commerce, Mich.). Both Jenna Nikels (Riley, Mich.) and Neris Archambault (Pepperell, Mass.) led the way in total points with three each, and were two of the nine players with multiple point performances, while Payton Sutherland (Brighton, Colo.) earned her second career shutout in goal.

The first period barrage began nine minutes in. Grace Joscelyn (Hooksett, N.H.) pinched down to support Nikles, who created space before finding Rylie McIntyre (Brunswick, Maine) open in front to break the ice. Off the ensuing draw, the Cadets got the puck deep into the attacking zone. As the Vikings went to retrieve it, Breanna Ricker (Laconia, N.H.) cut off the clearing attempt before Madison Anderson (Green Bay, Wis.) picked up the loose puck. Anderson sent it to Anna Lisac (Euclid, Ohio) for a one timer goal just 22 seconds after the icebreaker.

Later in the period, soon after Sutherland made a save, the Vikings looked to dump it in before it was intercepted by Joscelyn. She sent it to defensive partner Alex Leslie (Irishtown, N.B.) who sent it to McCluskey as she entered the zone. McCluskey's shot found its way through Salem netminder Delaney Cox for her first collegiate goal, extending Norwich's lead to three. After a goalie substitution, the Cadets stretched their lead even further. After exchanging passes with Livia Brooks (Walpole, Mass.), Jordan Brady (Green Bay, Wis.) wristed a shot that new netminder Cassandra Valentine could not handle, and Taylor Girouard (Burlington, Mass.) cleaned up the rebound. In the final minute, Nikles would convert with a yawning cage after slick passing with Archambault and McIntyre to cap off the five-goal period.

Salem State would change goalies for a second time to open the second period, putting Samantha Jaworski between the pipes. With six minutes left, Ricker buried a rebound making it a 6-0 game. Three minutes later, Archambault sprung Richardson on a breakaway beating Jaworski five-hole expanding the lead further. Brooks would add another goal late in the third to cap off the emphatic victory.

The Cadets will round out the regular season with a homestand against former travel partner New England College. That weekend series will get underway at 4 PM on Feb. 14.