Southern Maine Falls to Fifth-Ranked Norwich 3-0

            GORHAM, Maine -- Sophomore Sarah Schwenzfeier (Hingham, Mass.) scored twice in the first period and junior goalie Céleste Robert (Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec) stopped all 14 shots she face as the fifth-ranked Norwich University Cadets shut out the University of Southern Maine Huskies 3-0 in a New England Hockey Conference game Saturday afternoon at the USM Ice Arena.

            The win was the second straight for the Cadets and evened their overall record at 2-2.  The Cadets, the defending league champion, are 2-0 in NEHC play.  The Huskies dropped their second straight to slip to 0-2 overall and in league play.

            Schwenzfeier gave the visitors a 1-0 lead at 8:29 when her centering pass out of the left-wing corner deflected off a USM defender's stick and over the shoulder of senior goalie Nia Kelly (Santa Barbara, Calif.) for an unassisted power-play goal.  Three minutes later, Schwenzfeier doubled the advantage beating Kelly from the left-wing circle.  Junior Adelle Murphy (Roseau, Minn.) picked up the lone assist.

            After a scoreless second period, Norwich took advantage of a 5-on-3 power play midway through the final period.  Twelve seconds after going up two skaters, the Cadets put together some nifty passing that resulted in a goal by rookie Bryn Labbe (Calgary, Alberta) at 12:32, with assists going to Schwenzfeier and senior Madison Gallagher (Kirkland, Quebec).

            Robert had an easy first period, as she was not called upon to make a save.  She would make five stops in the middle period, and nine in the third period.  Robert got some help from the post late in the third period as senior Cassandra Sherman (North Smithfield, R.I.) rang a backhand shot off the right post.

            Kelly finished the game with 19 saves.

            Southern Maine hits the road next weekend for NEHC games at Saint Michael's College on Friday (7:00 p.m.) and Saint Anselm College on Saturday (3:00 p.m.).  Norwich will be at home next Friday (4:00 p.m.) hosting New England College for an NEHC contest.