#8 Norwich Blanks Salem State

Jose Rodriguez '24, Staff Writer | Media & Communications  

SALEM, Mass. --  Livia Brooks (Walpole, Mass.) netted four goals to give #8 Norwich a 9-0 shutout victory over Salem State in New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) action on Saturday afternoon at Rockett Arena. The Cadets improve their record to 10-3-1, 8-1-0  while the Vikings drop to 6-9,2-6.  

Prior to the game coach Kizzie expressed how his team was going to try and bounce back from last night's loss to New England College. "A verbal lesson was learned, you have to communicate..., you got to be aware... and three you have to compete...  If we are strong in those three areas in the game, we will have a good response this afternoon." He also added what it will take to beat #8 Norwich. "It goes back to those three things - communication, awareness and competing.  A lot of times when you approach a game like this, sometimes the underdog will lose a game before they even put their skates on. We have to come prepared, ready to go and work hard and have fun and we will have a good result." 

Emma Ramsey (Sioux Falls, S.D.) also spoke about netting her first collegiate goal last night against the Pilgrims "It was really great. I was obviously trying to get the puck into the net and it worked out, so it is something I am definitely going to take away from that game." As for how she is going to prepare for this afternoon's game. "Honestly, I am not really trying to think about it. I just have to play the same no matter who the team is. It doesn't matter who wew play. You must play the same way every night and is the same for our whole team as well."

The opening minutes of the game witnessed an extraordinary save by Vikings' goalie Cassandra Valentine (Westwood, Mass.,) who stretched her entire body to prevent a goal, ensuring that the game remained scoreless. Soon after, the Cadets managed to take control of the Vikings' zone and secured the first goal of the game. Emma Morel (Tournon, France) made a brilliant shot from 20 feet, which found the net, while Aimee Headland (Nottingham, UK) and Olivia Boyer (Saint Paul, Minn.) were credited with assists. The goal was scored just 2 minutes and 59 seconds into the period. 

Fast forward to later in the first, the Vikings came close to equalizing the score when Salem State's Alexis Thomas (Barnstable, Mass.) and Norwich's Jenna Nikles (Riley, Mich.) were sent to the penalty box, resulting in a four-on-four situation. Both teams were able to kill off the power play. Later on, Cadet's netminder Madison Brunet (Timmins, On.) made an impressive save on a shot by Cecelia Curtin (Montpelier, Vt.).  

Towards the end of the period, Valintine made a remarkable save, extending her full body near the net to keep the Cadets from scoring. However, Vikings' Thomas was sent to the penalty box for the second time during the period, and this time, the penalty was a five-minute major that would carry over into the second period. 

In the final minutes of the first period, Nikles scored a power play goal off a rebound, beating Valentine to the net and giving Norwich a two-goal lead. Aislinn Bennett (Milford, Mass.) was sent to the penalty box in the last 14 seconds of the period, leading to a five-on-three power play for the Cadets. 

The Cadets outshot the Vikings 25-4 in the first.   

In the second period of the game, the Cadets swiftly expanded their lead with a power play goal at 1:35, thanks to Levia Brooks' shot from the right side.Neris Archambault (Pepperell, Mass.) and Madison Anderson (Green Bay, Wis.) were credited with the assists. As time passed, Celeste Scoppettuolo (Revere, Mass.) of the Vikings attempted to get her team on the scoreboard with a shot from 15 feet from the net. However, the Cadets' goalkeeper, Brunet, was able to stop it. 

Norwich added another goal when Anderson passed the puck to Brooks on the right side, who shot the puck backhanded from the left side at 8:28.  

Norwich took advantage of another power play opportunity when a pile of players from both Norwich and Salem State formed on the left side of the net. Taylor Girouard (Burlington, Mass.) somehow managed to poke the puck inside the net in the pile. This was Cadets' third power play goal of the game, and it came at 11:08. 

Valentine continued to display her skills, making a huge save that prevented the Cadets from scoring further.  

At the end of the second period, Norwich had outshot Salem State 43 to 10, with Valentine saving 36 of 41 shots, and Brunet saving all ten shots. The Cadets scored on three of their six power play opportunities, while the Vikings were not able to capitalize on any of their power play chances. Norwich won 23 faceoffs, compared to Salem State's 18 throughout the first two periods. 

The Vikings struggled as they trailed by five goals in the last twenty minutes of the game. However, the Cadets were determined to extend their lead to six-spot goals, thanks to an Anderson goal. The goal was scored at the 5:00 mark of the period. 

Later, Brooks passed the puck to Anderson, who was on the left side, and she shot the puck inside the net to give Norwich a 7-0 lead. The Cadets continued their domination, when Brooks manage to score the eighth goal of the game just 39 seconds later. Brooks added one more late in the game, which was a power-play goal, to seal the deal. 

Norwich went 4 for 8 (.500) on their power play while Salem State went 0 for 1 (.000) The Cadets outshot the Viking 69 to 14, with Valentine saving an impressive 60 out of 69 shots on goal. Brunet, on the other hand, saved all 14 shots that went towards her. 

Salem State looks to bounce back on Friday January 6 as they will travel to face Southern Maine Huskies for a New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) contest. Game time is at 6:00 p.m.