NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Senior
Will Redick (Collingwood, Ontario) potted his 57th career goal and classmate
Brendan Doyle (Stratham, N.H.) added his first of the year, but Norwich University topped Plymouth State University, 5-2, in the Little East Conference (LEC) opener for both schools at Kreitzberg Arena on Friday night.
Norwich pulled ahead late in the opening frame with a power play goal in the final minute, then extended the margin to 3-0 midway through the second period. Redick cut the deficit to 3-1 with 5:43 left in the stanza, but the Cadets tacked on two more early in the third to put the game out of reach. Doyle closed the scoring with 7:14 left in regulation.
Plymouth State falls to 0-3-0 (0-1-0 LEC), while Norwich moves to 1-1-0 (1-0-0 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 2, Norwich 5
- Plymouth State (0-3-0, 0-1-0 LEC)
- Norwich (1-1-0, 1-0-0 LEC)
How it Happened:
- The first period went back and forth until the Cadets broke through with a power play goal in the final minute.
- Norwich doubled the lead 3:40 into the second, then extended it to 3-0 about nine minutes later.
- Redick snagged a loose puck behind the Norwich goal, cycled around the right circle, and beat the Cadets' goalie with 5:43 left in the middle frame to make it 3-1.
- The Cadets stretched the margin to 5-1 with a pair of goals in the opening five minutes of the third.
- PSU generated heavy pressure on a power play midway through the frame, but Norwich blocked multiple shots to preserve the lead.
- Doyle rifled a wrist shot into the top left corner from the right faceoff dot with 7:14 remaining to cut the margin to 5-2.
- The Panthers continued to press, outshooting Norwich 9-0 the rest of the way, but were unable to rally.
By the Numbers:
- Redick's 57 goals leave him one shy of tying Chris Chambers for fourth all-time.
- Doyle's tally was the 37th of his career and 15th since transferring to Plymouth State.
- Senior Payton Schaly (Orillia, Ontario), juniors Severi Sulonen (Turku, Finland) and David Matousek (Karlovy Vary, Czechia), and freshman Tucker Shedd (Holt, Mich.) all recorded assists. Shedd's helper marked his first collegiate point.
- Junior Connor Strobel (Butler, Pa.) made 29 saves.
- PSU owned a 42-34 edge in shots on goal.
- The Panthers went 0-for-5 on the power play, while Norwich finished 1-for-5.
- Plymouth State falls to 0-7-0 against the Cadets.
Up Next:
- The Panthers wrap up the conference-opening weekend with a trip to VTSU Castleton on Saturday (Nov. 8). Puck drop is set for 4 p.m.
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