PLYMOUTH, N.H. - Two first-period goals proved to be all the second-ranked Norwich University women's ice hockey team needed on Friday evening, as the Cadets protected an early advantage for more than 40 minutes to hand previously unbeaten Plymouth State University its first loss of the season, 2-0, in Little East Conference action at Hanaway Rink.
Norwich improved to 4-0-0 overall and 3-0-0 in conference play behind goals from Natalie Heutmaker (Eagan, Minn.) and Livia Brooks (Walpole, Mass.), while Payton Sutherland (Brighton, Colo.) turned aside all 11 shots she faced to preserve Norwich's third consecutive shutout.
The Cadets carried much of the play in the opening period, generating 10 shots on goal while limiting Plymouth State to just two.
Norwich broke through midway through the frame.
Sophomore Maggie Hunter (Royal Oak, Mich.) and freshman Anna Monette (Malone, N.Y.) combined to set up Heutmaker, who found the back of the net at 9:56 to put the Cadets ahead, 1-0.
The goal marked Heutmaker's second of the season, while Hunter collected her fourth assist and Monette earned her second helper.
Norwich continued applying pressure throughout the remainder of the period, eventually doubling the margin with just over a minute remaining before the intermission.
Junior Anna Lisac (Euclid, Ohio) created the opportunity, finding Brooks for the senior's third goal of the campaign at 18:52.
The strike sent Norwich into the first intermission ahead, 2-0, and ultimately completed the evening's scoring.
Plymouth State pushed back in the second period as the game settled into a tighter defensive battle, but Norwich continued to control the shot count with another 10-3 advantage.
The Panthers received their first power-play opportunity at 6:48 following a Norwich hooking penalty, but the Cadet penalty kill surrendered only one shot on goal while keeping the hosts off the scoreboard.
Norwich later received a power play of its own midway through the period. The Cadets generated several opportunities, including a shot from Ellin Rees (Cardiff, Wales, U.K.) that rang off the pipe, but Plymouth State kept the margin at two.
The Panthers received another chance on the advantage late in the frame, but Sutherland again held firm while the Norwich penalty kill successfully navigated the two-minute opportunity.
Protecting the 2-0 lead entering the third, the Cadets continued to generate pressure while Plymouth State mounted its strongest offensive period of the night.
Sutherland was called upon six times over the final 20 minutes and answered each opportunity.
The senior stopped consecutive shots less than a minute into the period before later denying attempts at 7:25, 13:32, 14:41, and 17:53 as Plymouth State searched for a breakthrough.
The Panthers eventually pulled their goaltender with 56 seconds remaining, but the Norwich defense prevented a final shot from reaching Sutherland, with Breanna Ricker (Laconia, N.H.) blocking an attempt in the closing minute to help finish the shutout.
Norwich ended the evening with a 29-11 advantage in shots on goal, recording 10 shots in each of the first two periods before adding nine in the third. The Cadets also attempted 57 total shots compared with 26 for Plymouth State.
Sutherland stopped two shots in the opening period, three in the second, and six in the third to complete the shutout and improve to 3-0-0 in goal this season.
The Cadets also went a perfect 2-for-2 on the penalty kill, holding Plymouth State without a goal on two second-period power-play opportunities. Norwich went scoreless on its lone chance with the extra skater.
Hunter, Monette, and Lisac each recorded one assist, while Hunter finished with a game-best plus-2 rating. Madalyn Liles (Arlington, Texas) led Norwich with five shots on goal, while Kaitlyn Dill (Elmhurst, Ill.) followed with four.
Norwich also held a 26-21 edge at the faceoff dot, led by freshman Greyce Kennedy (Upper Tantallon, Nova Scotia), who won seven of her 10 draws.
The loss was the first of the campaign for Plymouth State, which entered Friday night's meeting with matching 3-0-0 overall and 2-0-0 conference records.
Norwich will have little time before returning to the ice, traveling to Henniker, N.H., on Saturday, Nov. 14, for another Little East Conference matchup against New England College. Puck drop is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
