#5 Norwich Shuts Out Southern Maine 3-0

            NORTHFIELD, Vt. -- Rookie forward Trevor Stewart (Mission, Texas) scored two goals and senior goalie Chris Czarnota (Wakefield, Mass.) turned aside 11 shots as the fifth-ranked Norwich University Cadets shut out the visiting University of Southern Maine Huskies, 3-0, in an ECAC Men's East game Saturday at Kreitzberg Arena.

            The Cadets won their fourth straight game to improve to 14-3-2 overall and 10-1-1 in league play.  The Cadets have won the last 12 games, and 24 of the last 25, between the two teams.  The Huskies, winless in their last 12 games (0-7-5), slide to 4-10-5 overall and 3-8-2 in ECAC play.

            Norwich controlled play throughout the first two periods rolling up a 24-3 advantage in shots on goal, but only had a 1-0 lead to show for its efforts as USM sophomore goaltender Josh Hillegas (Middleton, Wis.) kept the Huskies in the game.  The only shot to slip past Hillegas came in the first period as rookie Dmitry Ermakov (Columbia, Md.) scored his third goal of the season on a wrist shot, assisted by sophomores Erik Lyrvall (Falun, Sweden) and Ryan Whitell (Calgary, Alberta), at 8:17.

            Stewart gave the home side some breathing room early in the third period finding the net for the fourth time this season at 3:40.  Freshman William Pelletier (St. Jean Chrysotome, Quebec) and sophomore Dean Niezgoda (Brewster, Mass.) picked up the assists.  Stewart tacked on another insurance goal, and unassisted marker, at 16:40.

            Czarnota cruised through the opening two periods before the Huskies, sensing a chance to upset the Cadets, fired eight shots his way in the final period.  Czarnota turned them all aside to pick up his second shutout of the season, and the eighth of his career.

            Hillegas had an outstanding game stopping 30 shots in a losing effort.  Norwich finished with a 33-11 advantage in shots on goal.  Both sides went 0 for 3 on the power play.

            Southern Maine looks to snap it winless streak next Friday (7:00 p.m.) when it travels to the University of New England.  Norwich will be on the road next weekend traveling to New England College on Friday (7:00 p.m.) and Saint Anselm College on Saturday (3:00 p.m.). 

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