Sophie Leclerc scored a pair of goals to lead the Norwich University women's ice hockey team past MIT, 4-3, in an ECAC East Tournament quarterfinal contest Saturday afternoon at Kreitzberg Arena.

With the victory, Norwich (17- 8-1) moves into the ECAC East semifinals for the first time in program history. The secondseeded Cadets will continue their quest for the program's first conference title next weekend (March 7-8) when they travel to Purchase, N.Y., for the ECAC East Final Four. Top-seeded Manhattanville, who defeated No. 8-seed Castleton, will host the event. NU's opponent in the semifinal round has not been determined at this time.

Norwich got on the scoreboard late in the first period when Leclerc scored a power play goal at the 13:40 mark. The goal was assisted by Julie Fortier and Danielle Del Dotto. The play started when Fortier slid a pass to Del Dotto in the slot. Del Dotto's shot was saved by MIT goaltender Rachel Bowens-Rubin, but the rebound caromed right to Leclerc, who slipped it into the net.

The Cadets outshot the Engineers 17-2 in the opening stanza, but they could not add to their lead and settled for a 1-0 edge after 20 minutes.

Norwich opened it up in the second period, scoring three more goals. Melissa Rundlett started the offensive explosion, scoring her 11th marker of the season off a feed from Fortier at the 5:40 mark. Kelsey Cone made it 3-0 in favor of the Cadets when she scored on the power play at the 10:48 mark. The goal, Cone's 14th of the year, came off a feed from Amanda Wilks.

MIT (6-15-1) answered Cone's goal just 33 seconds later when Lauren Kazmierski netted her fifth goal of the season at the 11:21 mark. The goal, which made the score 3-1, was assisted by Stephanie Leger and Connie Lu.

Norwich capped the second period scoring late in the frame.

Norwich held a 21-3 edge in shots in the second period, and the Cadets carried a commanding 4-1 lead into the final stanza.

MIT made it interesting late in the third period, scoring a pair of goals in the final 4:27 to pull to within 4-3. The Engineers made it 4-2 when Kameron Klauber found Clarion Hess for her eighth goal of the year.

After a timeout, the Engineers pulled their Bowens-Rubin for the final minute. They were unable to score the equalizer, though, and Norwich held on for the victory.