Pantalone Nets Huskies' Lone Goal; Shapiro Stops 31 Shots

            GORHAM, Maine -- Rookie goaltender Braeden Ostepchuk (Lethbridge, Alb.) stopped 18 shots and five different players scored goals as the second-ranked Norwich University Cadets defeated the University of Southern Maine Huskies 5-1 in an ECAC Men's East game Saturday at the USM Ice Arena.

            The win was the second straight for the Cadets who improved to 16-2-1 overall and remain undefeated atop the league standings at 12-0-0.  The Huskies fell to 4-13-0 overall and 2-10-0 in the league.

            Ostepchuk made eight saves on nine shots in the opening period, as the upset-minded Huskies were able to put some pressure on the rookie.  After surrendering a goal to USM rookie Alex Pantalone (Hudson, Mass.), Ostepchuk slammed the door on the Huskies, and needed to make only 10 saves over the final two periods.

            Sophomore Paul Russell (Andover, Mass.), senior Nevin Lawler (Fitchburg, Mass.) and junior Dean Niezgoda (Brewster, Mass.) each had a goal and an assist for the Cadets.  Sophomores Austin Surowiec (Louisville, Ky.) and Brendan Boyce (St. Albans, Vt.) netted the other goals for the Cadets.  Sophomore Anthony Flaherty (South Boston, Mass.) picked up a pair of assists.

            USM rookie goaltender Kyle Shapiro (Ocean, N.J.) stopped 31 shots, including all 20 he faced in the second period when the Cadets out shot the Huskies 20-4.

            Russell gave the Cadets the lead at 5:31 of the opening period when Niezgoda's centering pass deflected in off his skate.  Surowiec made it 2-0 just past the midpoint converting a step-up from sophomores Tyler Piacentini (South Weymouth, Mass.) and Trevor Stewart (Denver, Colo.).

            Pantalone pulled the Huskies within one at 15:09 with his fourth goal of the season.  Pantalone took a pass from classmate Patrick Magliano (Pelham, N.H.) and picked the top corner over Ostepchuk's glove hand for his fourth goal of the season.  Junior Chad O'Brien (Johnstown, Pa.) earned the second assist with some strong work along the end board.

            The second period was all Shapiro as the rookie goaltender frustrated Cadet shooters from all angles to keep it a one-goal game headed into the final period.

            Boyce finally solved Shapiro for his fifth goal of the season at 6:00.  Flaherty and Lawler picked up the assists.

            The Huskies went on a power play midway through the period, but it was the Cadets who would score as Lawler beat Shapiro up high from the right-wing circle making it 4-1.  Niezgoda added an empty-net goal from Russell with 1:07 remaining.

            Norwich finished the game out shooting Southern Maine 36-19.  Neither team was able to convert on the power play as the Cadets went 0 for 5 while the Huskies were 0 for 3.

            Southern Maine is back in action on Tuesday (7:00 pm.) traveling to Bowdoin College for a non-league game.  Norwich will host New England College next Friday (7:00 p.m.) for an ECAC Men's East contest. 

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