ICE HOCKEY

COLCHESTER, Vt. -The Saint Michael's College women's ice hockey team earned a 2-1 win versus in-state rival Norwich University on Saturday at Cairns Arena.

The Purple Knights improve to 6-12-1 (6-8-1 ECAC East), while the Cadets fall to 9-7-2 (6-6-2 ECAC East).

Desiree Biron led the St. Michael's attack with a power-play goal and an assist on the game-winning power-play goal, scored by Kelly Rose Losi midway through the third period. Melanie Cullen stopped 26 of 27 shots she faced to earn the victory, Saint Michael's first this season versus Norwich after two earlier wins by the Cadets.

Amanda Gage scored Norwich's lone goal with 4:45 left in regulation. Cindy Fortin turned aside 17 shots in the loss.

Saint Michael's opened the scoring just 2:46 into the contest on Biron's team-leading ninth goal of the season, assisted by Meghan Sweezey and Emily Paquin. The score remained 1-0 for the next 47 minutes, until the Purple Knights doubled their lead on Losi's sixth goal of the year, assisted by Biron and Crystal Sarno.

Norwich cut its deficit in half late in the frame on Gage's third goal of the year. The Cadets pulled Fortin for an extra attacker with 1:28 remaining, but couldn't score the equalizer in suffering the loss.

Norwich returns to action on Friday, Feb. 15, when the Cadets travel to Worcester, Mass., to battle Holy Cross in an ECAC East contest. Faceoff is slated for 7 p.m.