(with contributions from Norwich Sports Information)

            NORTHFIELD, Vt. -- Senior Nevin Lawler (Fitchburg, Mass.) scored two goals and had an assists to lead the third-ranked Norwich University Cadets to a 5-0 ECAC Men's East victory over the visiting University of Southern Maine Huskies Friday evening at Kreitzberg Arena.

            The win was the third straight for the undefeated Cadets (3-0-0; 2-0-0) who are ranked third nationally in this week's USCHO Division III poll.  The Huskies (1-3-0; 0-3-0) dropped their third straight game since opening the season with a non-conference win against Stonehill College.

            Lawler put the home side on the scoreboard just 26 ticks into the game when he jammed home the rebound of the shot by Alec Thieda (Rochester Hills, Mich.).  USM rookie goaltender Kyle Shapiro (Ocean, N.J.) stopped Theida's initial drive from the point, but could not control the rebound before Lawler jammed it into the net for his first marker of the season.

            The Cadets kept the pressure on Shapiro throughout the period and finally scored a second goal at 14:30 when sophomore Anthony Flaherty (South Boston, Mass.) beat Shapiro with a wrist shot to the right side.  Lawler and junior Ryan Whitell (Calgary, Alberta) picked up the assists.  The Cadets finished the period with a 12-5 edge in shots on goal.

            Norwich put the game away in the second period scoring three times, twice while on the power play.  Senior Corey Hale (Montreal, Quebec) made it 3-0 with a power-play goal, set up by Flaherty, at 7:38.  Sophomore Brendan Boyce (St. Albans, Vt.) found the back of the net 78 seconds later to make it 4-0.  Lawler completed the scoring with his second goal of the night in the final minute of the period.

            The teams skated through a scoreless third period with the Cadets out shooting the Huskies 13-6.

            Norwich freshman goalie Braeden Ostepchuk (Lethbridge, Alberta) made 14 saves to record his first collegiate shutout.  Shapiro turned aside 35 of 40 shots.  Norwich converted on 2 of 7 power-play opportunities while effectively killing off four Southern Maine power plays.

            Senior Gerard McEleney (Canton, Mass.) and sophomore Cody Smith (Hudson, Mass.) each had two assists in the game for the Cadets.

            Southern Maine is back in action on Saturday (3:00 p.m.) when they take on Saint Michael's College in Colchester, Vt.  Norwich will host the University of New England on Saturday (4:00 p.m.). 

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