NU tops USM
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Staff Report - Published: November 22, 2008
NORTHFIELD — The Norwich University men's ice hockey team opened its 2008-09 campaign in style Friday, defeating ECAC East rival Southern Maine, 4-2, at Kreitzberg Arena.
Norwich (1-0-0, 1-0-0 ECAC East) opened the scoring first as Eric Tallent scored a power-play goal just 2:16 into the contest. Nikita Kashirsky earned an assist on the play.
Southern Maine (0-1-0, 0-1-0 ECAC East) responded with a power-play goal of its own just 55 seconds later as Dan Rautenberg scored off assists from Ben Loss and Jon Rutt. The Huskies went ahead at 6:51 of the first period when Dan Gordon got behind the Norwich defense, took a pass at the blueline and beat NU goaltender Ryan Klingensmith to put USM in front 2-1. Rautenberg and Rutt were credited with assists on the goal.
The lead lasted into the second frame when Norwich tied the game less than two minutes in as Nick DelGallo took a pass from Billy Kasper and beat Southern Maine goaltender Jamie Gilbert to make it 2-2 at the 1:39 mark.
The Cadets then recaptured the lead late in the middle stanza when Chad Anderson scored a power play goal off assists from Steve Coon and Craig Serino at the 17:13 mark.
Neither team was able to score in the third period until Kashirsky added an empty net goal at the 19:43 mark. D.J. Fimiani and Rico Piatelli picked up assists on the empty-netter, which iced the victory.
The Cadets outshot the Huskies 16-3 in the third period, and they held a 27-16 edge in shots for the game. NU went 3-for-6 on the power play, while USM was 1-for-5 on the man advantage.Klingensmith stopped 14 of the 16 shots he faced en route to the victory.
Gilbert made 23 saves in the loss.
Prior to the game, Norwich raised its 2008 ECAC East regular season and tournament championship banner during a special pre-game ceremony.
The Cadets close their first weekend of league play on today when they host Salem State at Kreitzberg Arena in a 4 p.m. contest.
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