Third-Ranked Norwich Explodes Late, Downs Southern Maine 5-2

            GORHAM, Maine -- Third-ranked Norwich University exploded for four third-period goals in a span of 3:35 to overcome a one-goal deficit and defeat the University of Southern Maine 5-2 in a New England Hockey Conference game Friday evening at the USM Ice Arena.

            With the win, the Cadets improved their overall record to 2-0.  The Huskies dropped their second straight game to slip to 1-2 overall.  The game was the conference opener for both sides.

            Trailing 2-1 with less than seven minutes to play, the Cadets tied the contest when sophomore Kevin Salvucci (Plymouth, Mass.) scored the first of his two goals at 13:08.  Junior Tyler Piacentini (South Weymouth, Mass.) won a right-wing faceoff to Salvucci whose shot eluded USM sophomore goaltender Kyle Shapiro (Ocean, N.J.).

            The Cadets went on a five-minute power play with 5:35 to play and took advantage.  Salvucci scored an unassisted goal at 15:10 to give the visitors their first lead of the game.  Rookie Austin Evans (Whistler, B.C.) converted from junior Cody Smith (Hudson, Mass.) at 16:20, and junior Paul Russell (Andover, Mass.) found the net at 16:43 after taking a feed from Piacentini.

            Southern Maine grabbed a 2-0 lead in the opening period as sophomore Alex Pantalone (Hudson, Mass.) turned some good hustle into his first goal of the season sliding the puck between the legs of Norwich sophomore goalie Braeden Ostepchuk (Lethbridge, Alb.) at 13:28.  The Huskies took advantage of their first power-play opportunity later in the period as senior Todd Bannerman (Georgetown, Ont.) redirected a shot by Patrick Magliano (Pelham, N.H.) past Ostepchuk at 18:21.

            Norwich scored the lone goal of the second period.  Sophomore Alec Brandrup (Rochester, Minn.) scored from the blue line after taking a pass from Piacentini.

            Ostepchuk finished the game stopping 16 shots for his third win of the campaign.  Shapiro recorded 30 saves at the other end.

            Norwich piled up a 35-18 advantage in shots on goal, and converted three of eight opportunities with the extra skater.  Southern Maine was one for five on the power play.

            Southern Maine is back in action Saturday afternoon (4:00 p.m.) hosting Saint Michael's College.  Norwich travels to Biddeford, Maine, to face the University of New England.