Adrian junior forward Une Bjelland rips a shot on the net toward Norwich goaltender Alexa Berg under pressure from senior defenseman Kayla Goleniak in the Northfield Savings Bank East-West Classic at Norwich’s Kreitzberg Arena. The 2021 Northfield Savings Bank East/West Classic got off to a roaring start with the host Norwich University earning a hard-fought 4-2 victory over Adrian College Saturday at Kreitzberg Arena.
The first period saw the No. 8 Adrian Bulldogs largely control play, outshooting the No. 10 Norwich Cadets 11-4. The Bulldogs opened the scoring early, with a shorthanded goal by sophomore Jocelin Hudanish at the 3:17 mark.
The Cadets came back, though, with a powerplay tally by sophomore Ally Lagrue, who tipped a shot from the point for a goal with four minutes remaining in the period.
While Adrian came out for the second period with the same intensity as the first, it was Norwich who took advantage of their chances.
Senior Morgan Tefft gave the Cadets the lead at 7:36 with a low-angle shot that beat Adrian goaltender Sophie Goldberg before Norwich doubled the lead with a tip from junior Ann-Frederique Guay. The goal was the Cadets’ third tally on just their sixth shot on the net.
Despite the Bulldogs’ early control of possession, the two-goal lead for the hosts changed the complexion of the contest, and the Cadets began to generate more sustained offensive pressure from there.
Adrian reduced the deficit to one goal in the third period, as sophomore Callie Wollschlager found the back of the net on the delayed penalty, but could not convert on the ensuing powerplay to tie the game.
Norwich continued to generate pressure through the third period, and Adrian struggled to find an opportunity to pull Goldberg from the net, but when they did get the extra attacker on it wasn’t enough.
Junior forward Julia Masotta sealed the Cadets’ victory with an empty-net goal at 19:16 of the third period, advancing Norwich to the East/ West Classic Championship Sunday against the defending champion Plattsburgh State. Adrian moved on to the consolation game against Elmira College.
Goldberg made 16 saves on 20 shots in the loss for Adrian, while Norwich goaltender Alexa Berg stopped 26 of 28 shots for the win.
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