Photo by Bill Croney, The Northfield News Julie Fortier (Left) had a pair of goals to lead the Noriwch Lady Ice Cadets to an 8-1 win over St. Michael's in Burlington last Friday Night. The 8-0-1 Norwich Women will now take a break until Jan. 8th when they host Salve Regina in a 6 p.m. game. Norwich Sports Information

Sophomore F Julie Fortier and sophomore D Caitie Banfield each scored twice to lead the Norwich University women’s ice hockey team to an 8-1 victory over in-state rival St. Michael’s College Friday evening in an ECAC East contest at Cairns Arena.

The Cadets (8-1-1, 7-1-1 ECAC East) got on the board at 8:11 of the first period when Banfield netted a goal off a assists from freshman F Bianca Bogda and senior F Katie Leupp. Play remained in the Purple Knights’ defensive end as Norwich continued to apply pressure. NU’s persistence paid off at the 9:53 mark when junior F Kelsey Cone tallied a power play goal off assists from sophomore F Melissa Rundlett and Fortier.

As the first period ticked down, the Purple Knights were forced into a defensive game. No matter how they worked the puck to break out of their zone, the Cadets were at their posts and ready to shut them down at the blue line. Norwich’s starting line recorded its second goal of the night with less than four minutes on the clock as Rundlett and Cone combined to assist Fortier for her seventh goal of the season.

Midway through the second period, Banfield tallied her second goal of the game with help from Leupp to put Saint Michael’s into a four-goal deficit. Fortier tallied her second goal of the game – and eighth of the season – at the 14:40 mark of the second to give the Cadets a commanding 5-0 lead heading into the final 20 minutes of play.

The Cadets extended their advantage to 6-0 early in the third period when junior F Sarah Scardino scored off assists from Banfield and sophomore D Amanda Wilks at the 5:16 mark.

St. Michael’s (1-8-0, 1-8-0 ECAC East) broke up the shutout bid at the 11:26 mark when Desiree Biron put the Purple Knights on the board. Meghan Colitti picked up an assist on the tally.

Norwich retaliated less than two minutes later as Leupp scored an unassisted marker for her first goal of the game. Freshman F Bianca Bogda capped the scoring at the 16:53 mark when she scored off assists from Leupp and freshman D Brittany Casey.

Norwich sophomore G Chiara Traversa made nine saves to earn the win for the Cadets between the pipes. SMC junior G Alysia Goldman recorded 45 saves in the loss.

The Cadets outshot the Purple Knights by a commanding 53-10 margin. Norwich converted 1-of- 7 power play attempts, while St. Michael’s was 0-for-1 on the man-advantage.

Norwich will be back in action on Friday, Jan. 8, when the Cadets host ECAC East rival Salve Regina at Kreitzberg Arena. The opening puck drop for the conference contest is set for 7 p.m.