#7 Norwich Downs Southern Maine 6-1

            NORTHFIELD, Vt. -- Seniors Sophie McGovern (Hermantown, Minn.) and Amanda Conway (Methuen, Mass.) each scored a pair of goals as the 7th-ranked Norwich University Cadets defeated the visiting University of Southern Maine Huskies 6-1 in a New England Hockey Conference women's game Sunday afternoon at Kreitzberg Arena.

            The Cadets extended their current unbeaten streak to eight games (7-0-1), and improved to 17-4-2 overall.  The Cadets lead the NEHC with a perfect 14-0 mark heading into the final weekend of the regular season.  The Huskies dropped their second straight to slide to 10-12-2 overall and 8-7-0 in conference play.

            McGovern gave the home side the lead in the opening minute converting a set-up from Conway and senior Kirsten Watts (Chugiak, Alaska) into her 14th goal of the season.  Junior Samantha Benoit (Bow, N.H.) doubled the Cadets' lead at 18:28 with what proved to be the game-winning goal.

            Conway's first goal, coming at 4:32 of the second period on the power play, extended the Cadets' lead to 3-0.

            Southern Maine got on the board shortly after when sophomore Brianna Doty (Lyndonville, Vt.) scored her third goal of the season after assists from seniors Katie Nolan (Dorchester, Mass.) and Grace Simmons (Buffalo, N.Y.).

            McGovern, on the power play, and Conway would find the net before the end of the second period to put the Cadets firmly in control.

            Rookie Ann-Frederique Guay (St-Lambert-de-Lauzon, Quebec) scored the only goal of the third period.

            Norwich finished the game with a 38-17 advantage in shots on goal, including a 19-3 edge in the third period, and converted on 3 of 4 power plays.  Southern Maine went 0 for 5 with the extra skater.  Norwich junior goalie Emily Lambert (Riverview, Mich.) posted 16 saves to earn her sixth win of the season.  Southern Maine senior Whitney Padgett (Eden Prairie, Minn.) took the loss making 14 saves over the first two periods.  Rookie Hannah Aveni (Melrose, Mass.) played the third period stopping 18 shots.

            Southern Maine will conclude the regular season this coming Friday (4 p.m.) at New England College.  Norwich will take on the University of Massachusetts Boston on Friday (4 p.m.) and Johnson and Wales University on Saturday (1 p.m.).

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