ICE HOCKEY

NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Shannon McNulty scored the game-winning goal with 1:41 left in regulation to lift the Norwich women's hockey team over Holy Cross in an ECAC East contest on Saturday afternoon at Kreitzberg Arena.

The win moves the Cadets' record to 6-5-1 (3-4-1 ECAC East), while the Crusaders fall to 9-4-1 (7-2-0 ECAC East).

Norwich opened a three-goal lead after the first period as the Cadets jumped all over Holy Cross. Sophie Leclerc opened the scoring just 3:34 into the game to put NU on top 1-0. Leclerc added her second tally of the afternoon just four minutes later when the junior forward scored on the power play. Sarah Scardino made it 3-0 in favor of Norwich when she added a power play goal with 8:22 left in the first period.

Norwich outshot Holy Cross, 9-3, in the opening 20 minutes en route to taking the 3-0 lead, but the Cadets could not sustain their effort in the second stanza, as the Crusaders came storming back to tie the game.

Lisa Wilson got Holy Cross on the board at the 14:32 mark of the second period with an even strength goal. Stephanie Couzin and Kathryn Kelly netted power play goals later in the frame as the Crusaders erased their three-goal deficit. HC outshot NU, 14-6, in the period en route to scoring the three unanswered goals.

The third period was a stalemate until McNulty broke the 3-3 deadlock with a blast from the blueline past the Holy Cross goaltender.

Norwich held a slim 26-25 edge in shots on goal for the game after outshooting Holy Cross, 11-8, in the third period. Each team converted two power play goals. Cindy Fortin made 22 saves in the Norwich goal to pick up the victory between the pipes.

NU resumes its four-game homestand on Jan. 26-27 when the Cadets host conference foes Southern Maine and New England College at Kreitzberg Arena.