Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Junior Kyle Thomas (Waltham, Mass.) tallied two goals and three assists, including an empty-net insurance score with 1:07 remaining to help lead the nation's second-ranked squad, Norwich University, past the University of New England men's ice hockey team, 7-4, in ECAC East League action Friday evening at Biddeford Ice Arena.

The contest was the season-opener for the Cadets (1-0), while UNE drops to 0-3 on the season.

First-year Doug Lindensmith (Sterling Heights, Mich.) contributed a hat-trick to the winning effort for Norwich, and sophomore Travis Janke (Swift Current, Sask.) added a goal to go with three helpers.

The Nor'easters struck first just 57 seconds into the match on a goal by sophomore Zach Lokey (Elizabethtown, Pa.), before the visitors netted two power-play scores in the ensuing five minutes to assume a 2-1 cushion after one period.

Norwich built the lead up to 4-1 with the only two goals of the second, but UNE got it back to 4-2 with a man-up score from first-year Nick Kolb (Virginia Beach, Va.) 1:28 into the third.

Lindensmith restored the three-goal margin with 13:52 to go, only to see Big Blue pocket another goal on the advantage 51 ticks later to make it 5-3. Junior Tyler Fleurent (Biddeford, Maine) recorded his third goal in as many games this season to get into the scoring column on the play.

UNE trimmed the deficit to one (5-4) with 4:52 left on a score by junior Adam Laite (Howie Center, Nova Scotia), but the hosts could not find the equalizer with an extra skater late before Thomas put one into the open cage to seal it.

Lokey, Kolb, and Laite all registered assists to go with their goals on the night for the Nor'easters, who were out-shot 38-20 in the game.

Norwich sophomore netminder Parker Carroll (West Chester, Pa.) turned in 16 saves to get the win for the Cadets, who visit the University of Southern Maine on Saturday (4 p.m.).

Big Blue got 31 saves out of sophomore goalie Ian Edwards (Linden, Mich.). UNE continues its home-opening weekend with a game on Saturday, as well -- start time against Saint Michael's College is slated for 4 p.m.


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