Box Score (with contributions from Norwich University Sports Information)
Shapiro Makes 38 Saves in Losing Effort
NORTHFIELD, Vt. -- The top-seeded Norwich University Cadets scored four unanswered goals in a span of 7:49 during the third period to defeat the upset-minded University of Southern Maine Huskies, 4-0, Saturday night at Kreitzberg Arena in the quarterfinal round of the ECAC Men's East Tournament.
The Cadets, ranked #2/#3 nationally, improved to 22-3-1 overall and will host a semi-final round game next Saturday against fourth-seed Castleton State College. Castleton advanced with a 3-2, come-from-behind overtime victory over fifth-seeded University of New England. The Huskies concluded their season at 6-19-1 overall.
Despite piling up a 30-9 edge in shots on goal through the first two periods, the Cadets found themselves locked in a scoreless tie with the eighth-seeded Huskies heading into the final period. USM rookie goaltender Kyle Shapiro (Ocean, N.J.) stood tall stopping all 30 shots and getting help from his teammates who blocked 18 more over the first 40 minutes.
The Cadets finally broke through against Shapiro when senior Alec Thieda (Rochester Hills, Mich.) put the home side on the board at 7:03 as he tallied his third goal of the season. Thieda's shot banked off a USM defender's skate and past Shapiro.
Three minutes later, rookie Justin Charbonneau (Bromont, Quebec) doubled the Cadets advantage when he tallied his fifth goal of the campaign. Charbonneau fired home the rebound of a shot from rookie Alec Brandup (Rochester, Minn.) after Shapiro stopped Brandup's drive from the blue line.
Sophomore Tyler Piacentini (South Weymouth, Mass.) added a 5-on-3 power-play goal at 13:06, and sophomore Cody Smith (Hudson, Mass.) closed the scoring at 17:52.
Norwich sophomore goalie Tyler Reichenbach (Billings, Mont.) earned his third shutout of the season making 12 saves. Shapiro finished the game with 38 saves before being lifted with 1:34 to play for the extra attacker.
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