Scott Schroeder '13 and Chris Duszynski '14 recorded two goals and one assist apiece to lead nationally ranked No. 3 Norwich University to a 7-1 win against Hamilton College in a NESCAC/ECAC East crossover men's ice hockey game at Hamilton's Russell Sage Rink on Dec. 4.
Norwich (4-1-1 overall, 3-0-1 ECAC East) chased Continentals' starting goalie Scott Hefferman '11 with three goals in the first period, and broke the game open with three more in the final 3 minutes, 17 seconds of the second period. Hefferman entered the game with a 1.76 goals against average and .949 save percentage.
Travis Janke '14 was credited with four assists for the Cadets, and Alex Dubois '13 made a bid for his third shutout this season. Dubois finally allowed a goal with 2:52 left in the third and finished with 21 saves. Norwich won the 2010 NCAA Division III championship.
Schroeder got things started for the Cadets at 6:48 of the first period when he skated around the back of the net and scored on a wraparound from the right side. Duszynski made the score 2-0 just 33 seconds later when he put the puck past Hefferman on a wrist shot from the slot. The third goal came with 7:58 left in the first when Chad Anderson '11 scored his second goal of the season on a one-timer from the left circle. Anderson also had two assists.
Hamilton (3-3-0, 2-2 NESCAC) tried to turn up the pressure early in the second period, but still couldn't get the puck past Dubois. Then Norwich sealed the win late in the period. Kyle Thomas '13 scored a power-play goal on a one-timer from the bottom of the right circle with 3:17 left. Janke skated into the offensive zone on the left side and found Thomas all alone for his third goal. Duszynski tallied his fourth with 1:43 remaining when he skated into the Hamilton zone and lifted a backhand from the bottom of the left circle. Pier-Olivier Cotnoir '13 made the score 6-0 with 24.7 seconds left as he put away a rebound during a scramble in front of the goal.
Schroeder notched his team-high fifth goal with 5:37 remaining in the third period when he redirected a shot from above the right circle by Greg Eskedjian '11. The Continentals finally got on the scoreboard with a power-play goal at 17:08. Andrew White '13 scored his first of the season on a shot from the blue line above the right circle.
The Cadets lead the all-time series, 55-29-3. Norwich held a 34-22 shot advantage. Cam Gibbar '13 made 21 saves in relief of Hefferman. Hamilton lost for the first time at home in three games this season.
The Continentals travel to Western New England College for a non-conference game on Friday, Dec. 10. The Cadets are at Saint Michael's College for an ECAC East contest on Tuesday, Dec. 7.
