Box Score Fourth-Ranked Norwich Gets By Southern Maine 4-1
GORHAM, Maine -- Fourth-ranked Norwich University got goals from four players and junior goalie Matic Marinsek (Ljubljana, Slovenia) stopped 15 shots as the visiting Cadets defeated the University of Southern Maine Huskies 4-1 in an ECAC Men's East game Friday evening at the USM Ice Arena.
The Cadets won their third straight game to improve to 3-0-0 overall and 2-0-0 in league play. The Huskies, playing their home opener, slipped to 1-2-0 overall and in the league.
Rookie Cody Smith (Hudson, Mass.) led the Cadets offense with a goal and two assists. Classmates Trevor Stewart (Mission, Texas) and William Pelletier (St. Jean Chrysotome, Quebec) each had a goal and an assist. Junior Corey Hale (Montreal, Quebec) picked up two assists.
Pelletier had the only goal of the first 20 minutes converting a set up from Stewart and sophomore Ryan Whitell (Calgary, Alb.) for his first collegiate goal at 5:33. Norwich would pile up a 10-4 edge in shots on goal in the period.
Smith scored what proved to be the game winner midway through the second period when his shot deflected off a USM stick and fluttered through a screen past USM rookie goalie Dylan Wells (Nashville, Tenn.). Hale and junior Gerard McEleney (Canton, Mass.) earned the assists.
Freshman Paul Russell (Andover, Mass.) tacked on a power-play goal at 1:11 of the third period with a one-timer from the right-wing circle over Wells' shoulder.
Southern Maine got on the board against Marinsek at the 10:00 mark as senior Angelo Vrachnas (St. James, N.Y.) whistled home a shot from 30 feet out for a power-play goal. Marinsek, who shutout USM in two games last season, had a string of 170 shutout minutes against Huskies before the goal. Sophomore Alex Pompeo (Hingham, Mass.) and Wells were credited with the assists.
Stewart closed out the scoring with his second goal of the season at 13:38. Pelletier and Smith had the assists on the power-play marker.
Wells finished the game with 26 saves for USM. Norwich out shot USM 30-16, and converted 2 of 6 power-play opportunities. USM was 1 for 4 with the man advantage.
Southern Maine is back in action on Saturday (4:00 p.m.) hosting Saint Michael's College. Norwich will play at the University on New England on Saturday (4:00 p.m.).
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