GORHAM, Maine- The fifth-ranked Norwich Women's Ice Hockey team clinched the Little East Conference (LEC) regular-season championship Friday night, earning its third consecutive league title with a hard-fought road victory over Southern Maine Huskies at USM Ice Arena. A two-goal from Olivia Boyer (Saint Paul, Minn.) and one from Alex Leslie (Irishtown, N.B.) proved decisive as the Cadets rose to the moment in a playoff-style battle.

Norwich came out with pace and tested Husky goaltender Megan Gawley early, establishing a forecheck and generating traffic in the offensive zone. Southern Maine responded midway through the opening period, turning the tide and forcing Madison Brunet (Timmins, Ont.) into several key saves as the Huskies created chances off the rush and from the slot.

A late Norwich power play shifted momentum back in the Cadets' favor, allowing them to close the period with sustained zone time, but the score remained knotted at 0–0 after twenty minutes.

The second period unfolded with the same intensity, as Norwich continued to press while Southern Maine worked to keep shots to the perimeter. Gawley was sharp, tracking pucks cleanly and denying second chances as the Cadets ramped up pressure. Despite Norwich's territorial edge, the breakthrough didn't come until the closing minutes of the frame.

With a delayed penalty pending and the extra attacker on, Geena Cookinham (Gilmanton, N.H.) controlled the puck behind the net and moved it around the zone to Maggie Hunter (Royal Oak, Mich.) at the right point. Hunter slid the puck across to Leslie, whose wrist shot threaded through traffic, which was deflected by Boyer past Gawley, finally breaking the deadlock and giving Norwich a 1–0 lead.

The advantage was short-lived. Just 46 seconds later, Southern Maine answered when Madison Chagnon converted on a two-on-one rush, evening the score and reigniting the home crowd. Norwich carried a power play into the third period and held a 17–5 edge in shots through forty minutes, setting the stage for a decisive final frame.

The Huskies killed off the opening penalty of the third, but the momentum never left Norwich's bench. The Cadets laid siege to the offensive zone, cycling relentlessly and denying Southern Maine any clean exits. As the pressure mounted, Norwich earned another power play and made it count.

Ellin Rees (Cardiff, Wales, U.K.) collected the puck along the left boards and moved it to the center point for Dani Ammons (Centennial, Colo.). Gawley turned aside Ammons' initial drive, but Breanna Ricker (Laconia, N.H.) was first to the rebound, tapping it across the crease to Boyer, who buried the eventual game-winner to put the Cadets back in front.

Norwich continued to dominate play down the stretch, and Leslie put the game away in the final minute. Off a faceoff win, she intercepted a Southern Maine clearing attempt and snapped home her second goal of the night—Norwich's second power-play marker of the period—to seal the victory and the championship.

The final frame told the story, as Norwich outshot the Huskies 23–0 in the third period, suffocating any comeback attempt and showcasing the defensive structure and discipline that have defined the Cadets' season.

"USM played a very strong game today and used their home ice and Olympic-sized surface to their advantage," said Head Coach Justin Simpson. "They did an excellent job limiting our offense and keeping us to the perimeter. Their goalie, Megan Gawley, played very well. Our PP was huge for us today, with 2 goals, and our other goal was scored on a delayed penalty with a 6v5. We will need to do a better job tomorrow getting to the inside offensively and attacking inside the dots."

With the win, Norwich secured the LEC regular-season crown in the league's inaugural season, and the third straight season, including the final two of the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC).

The Cadets and Huskies will close out the weekend series on Saturday, Jan. 7, with a 3 p.m. puck drop in Gorham, as Norwich looks to carry its championship momentum into the final stages of the regular season.