GORHAM, Maine- The Norwich Women's Ice Hockey team continued its strong run through Little East Conference (LEC) play Saturday afternoon, grinding out a 4–2 road win over Southern Maine to complete a hard-fought weekend sweep in its final road contest of the regular season.

In a physical, playoff-style battle at USM Ice Arena, Norwich leaned on timely scoring in the third period and clutch special teams play to pull away. Olivia Boyer (Saint Paul, Minn.) led the way with two third-period goals. At the same time, linemates Geena Cookinham (Gilmanton, N.H.) and Breanna Ricker (Laconia, N.H.) each added two points to pace the Cadets offensively.

Southern Maine struck first, converting on its opening chance of the afternoon. Just two minutes in, Shannon Murphy finished a breakaway on the Huskies' first shot to give the home side an early 1–0 lead. USM built on that momentum by earning back-to-back power plays. Still, Madison Brunet (Timmins, Ont.) and the Norwich penalty-killing unit answered the call, turning aside each opportunity to keep the deficit at one.

As the period wore on, the Cadets began to find their footing and turned sustained pressure into the equalizer. Off an Anna Lisac (Euclid, Ohio) faceoff win, Maggie Hunter (Royal Oak, Mich.) stepped into a wrist shot from the right point that beat Husky goaltender Megan Gawley, tying the game at 1–1.

Norwich was tested again minutes later when it returned to the penalty kill, but Brunet and the Cadets once more came up clutch, denying Southern Maine a chance to reclaim the lead. The opening period closed with Norwich carrying a five-on-three power play into the intermission, setting the stage for a pivotal middle frame.

The Huskies successfully killed off both penalties to start the second period, but the visitors maintained the momentum. Norwich poured shots on Gawley, cycling through the offensive zone and generating chances from the slot. The teams later traded unsuccessful power plays before the Cadets finally broke through.

On the man advantage, Ellin Rees (Cardiff, Wales, U.K.) fed Madison Anderson (Green Bay, Wis.) down low before a cross-ice pass deflected off a Husky defender and landed on the stick of Dani Ammons (Centennial, Colo.) in the slot. Ammons made no mistake, snapping the puck home to give Norwich a 2–1 lead.

Southern Maine responded late in the period in dramatic fashion. With Norwich back on the power play, Saige Macleod broke free shorthanded and converted on a breakaway, evening the score at 2–2 heading into the second intermission. Despite the tie, Norwich controlled play throughout the period, outshooting the Huskies 21–4 in the middle frame.

The Cadets wasted little time regaining the lead in the third. Just 26 seconds after the puck dropped, Ricker sent the puck down low to Cookinham, who found Boyer in prime position. Boyer finished the chance to make it 3–2 and swing momentum firmly back to Norwich.

Five minutes later, the same line struck again. Ricker retrieved the puck along the half wall and worked it to Cookinham behind the net. Cookinham slipped a feed to the doorstep, where Boyer buried her second goal of the period to give the Cadets a two-goal cushion.

Norwich's discipline and defensive structure carried them the rest of the way. The Cadets killed off a five-on-three disadvantage with minimal chances allowed, frustrating the Huskies and protecting the lead. Brunet remained steady in net, and Norwich controlled possession in the closing minutes to see out the victory.

"This was a difficult road weekend and we grinded out two wins," said Head Coach Justin Simpson. "We are pleased to have secured the LEC regular season championship, but need to keep pushing forward and growing as we head into the final stretch of the regular season and playoffs."

With the win, Norwich completed the weekend sweep and closed its regular-season road schedule on a high note, continuing to build momentum as postseason play approaches.

The Cadets will return home for their final two LEC weekend series of the regular season, beginning Friday, Feb. 13, when Norwich hosts UMass Boston for a 6 p.m. puck drop at Kreitzberg Arena.