Norwich’s #27 Troy Allen scores and #14 Pier-Oliver Cotnoir assists on their way in dismantling Babson College 4-1 in the ECAC East Hockey title game Saturday night at Kreitzberg. Photo By Bill Langley, The Northfield News. RYE, N.Y. – The Norwich University women’s ice hockey team captured its second straight ECAC East Tournament title on Sunday afternoon as the second seeded Cadets shut out fifth-seeded New England College, 3-0, in the championship game at Playland Ice Casino.

The victory also guarantees that the Norwich (18-5-5) will be making a return trip to the NCAA Tournament, as the Cadets secure the league’s automatic berth to the event. NU’s opponent in the tournament, which is set to begin next weekend, will be announced later today when the NCAA reveals the field.

Norwich’s first good scoring chance of the contest came with seven minutes remaining in the first period when freshman D Brittany Casey rang a wrist shot off the left goalpost.

The Cadets’ persistence finally paid off when junior F Kelsey Cone scored on the power play with less than three minutes to play in the first period. Sophomore D Amanda Wilks ripped a shot from the right point that Cone deflected past NEC goaltender Teraysa White at the 17:07 mark. The marker, which was Cone’s 10th of the season, was also assisted by sophomore D Sarianne Lynn, who worked the puck to Wilks at the point.

Norwich outshot New England College 11-4 in the opening 20 minutes, and the Cadets skated off the ice with a 1-0 advantage.

The Cadets again carried the play in the second period, outshooting the Pilgrims by a 16-12 margin. Norwich was unable to score on three power play attempts in the frame, but the Cadets did tally their second marker of the contest late in the stanza when Fortier netted her team-leading 22nd goal of the year at the 19:04 mark. Lynn, whose shot from the blue line was deflected by Fortier and past White, was credited with an assist on the play.

New England College (12-13-3) enjoyed a 7-3 edge in shots during the third period, but the Pilgrims were not able to get anything behind Norwich junior G Cindy Fortin.

Junior F Brittane Michaud added an unassisted empty-net goal with 1:04 to play in the third period to cap the scoring. The third-year performer, who potted four goals in the Cadets’ 8-0 semifinal victory over UMass-Boston on Saturday, has now scored eight goals on the season.

Fortin was on top of her game throughout, stopping all 23 shots that she faced to earn her second straight shutout.

White made 27 saves for the Pilgrims in the loss.

Wilks, Michaud and Fortier represented Norwich on the alltournament team. Michaud, who scored five goals over the course of the weekend, was named the event’s “Most Valuable Player.” White earned alltournament team honors for NEC, while UMass-Boston’s Maria Nasta rounded out the team.