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            NORTHFIELD, Vt. -- Four different players scored goals and senior goalie Cindy Fortin (Quebec City, Quebec) stopped 17 shots as the nationally ranked Norwich University women's ice hockey team stretched its unbeaten streak to eight games with a 4-0 shutout of the University of Southern Maine in an ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) Women's East game Saturday afternoon at Kreitzberg Arena.

            Norwich, ranked fourth in the nation in this week's USCHo.com Division III poll, is 7-0-1 in its last eight outings, and improved to 15-3-1 overall and 12-0-1 in league play.  Southern Maine had it three-game unbeaten string (2-0-1) stopped, and fell to 6-13-2 overall and 4-9-1 in the league.

            Fortin stopped every USM shot she faced to earn her second shutout of the season, and the 14th of her career.  Fortin is unbeaten in her last 11 starts between the pipes.

            Junior Melissa Rundlett (Saco, Maine) opened the scoring at 6:58 of the first period, knocking in a rebound for a power-play goal.  Classmate Julie Fortier (Saint-Malachie, Quebec) doubled the Cadets advantage with a goal at 13:43.  Junior Amanda Wilks (Winnipeg, Manitoba) had an assist on both goals.

            After a scoreless second period, thanks mainly to the goaltending of USM rookie Jordan Lee (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Norwich put the game away with two goals in the third period.  Freshman Brittany Sharman (Ayer's Cliff, Quebec) made it 3-0 at the 1:41 mark, and senior Brittane Michaud (Lewiston, Maine) closed the scoring at 17:04.

            Lee finished the game registering 42 saves.

            Southern Maine returns home next weekend for its final two home games of the regular season.  USM will entertain Castleton State College on Friday (7:00 p.m.) and New England College on Saturday (1:00 p.m.).  Norwich host Plymouth State University on Monday (7:30 p.m.).

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