Cadets defeat Seahawks in Kingston, 5-1

KINGSTON, R.I. - Senior Sophie Leclerc (Barre, Vt.) and sophomores Julie Fortier (Saint-Malachie, Quebec) and Amanda Wilks (Winnipeg, Manitoba) each recorded a goal and an assist to lead Norwich University to a 5-1 win over Salve Regina University in Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) women's ice hockey action Friday afternoon at Boss Ice Arena.

Sophomore Sarianne Lynn (Wethersfield, Conn.) and freshman Courtney Parisot (Watertown, Conn.) also scored for the Cadets, who improved to 4-3-1 all-time against the Seahawks and 13-3-3 (11-2-2 ECAC) on the season. Freshman Rachel Porter (Franklin, Mass.) scored her fifth goal of the season for the Seahawks (12-5-3, 9-3-3 ECAC), who received 41 saves from sophomore Rebecca Simmons (Averill Park, N.Y.).

The Cadets jumped out to a 1-0 lead at 7:13 of the opening period when Leclerc broke in alone on Simmons and beat her with a shot over the blocker. They doubled their lead at 15:30 when Fortier's shot hit the back boards, the back on Simmons' leg, and trickled into the net. Junior Kelsey Cone (Manchester, Vt.) picked up the assist on Fortier's 16th of the season.

In the second, Lynn converted a feed from junior Emily Goff (West Roxbury, Mass.) into her second of the year at 9:35 to push the Norwich lead to 3-0. Seven seconds later, Porter took the ensuing faceoff into the Cadet zone and scored to cut the Salve Regina deficit to two at 3-1. Her goal proved to be all the Seahawks could get past junior goalie Cindy Fortin (Quebec City, Quebec) on the afternoon, and third period goals by Parisot at 8:41 and Wilks at 10:04 sealed the Cadets fourth win in their last six games.

"Every team gets depleted, so we can't use injuries as an excuse," said Salve Regina head coach Michael Cox. "I thought we were OK, but I didn't think we played our best game. We didn't rally to the occasion."

Fortin recorded 16 saves to improve to 5-3-3 on the season while Simmons' record dipped to 5-5-3 with the loss. The Seahawks were unable to convert on three power-play chances, and the Cadets made good on their only chance with the extra skater. Norwich finished the game with a 51-17 edge in shots.

The Seahawks return to action on Saturday when they play at UMass Boston Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. Norwich travels to Purchase, N.Y. for a Sunday afternoon contest with Manhattanville at 3 p.m.