Amherst and Norwich to Battle for NCAA Title

Amherst and Norwich emerged from their NCAA Semifinals Friday victorious and will battle Saturday evening for the 2010 NCAA Championship.

The Cadets build a 2-0 lead on Elmira as Brittane Michaud and Melissa Rundlett each lit the lamp. The Soaring Eagles would respond just over two minutes later as Lauryn DePaul cut the deficit in half with a Power Play Goal. The teams would battle back and forth for the remainder of the second and initial half of the third period before Elmira found their spark once more. Freshman Madison Johnston got Elmria even once more at the 11:47 mark with an unassisted goal, her sixth of the season. The Celebration for the Soaring Eagles would be short lived however as the Cadets would power back under two minutes later and take the lead for good as Julie Fortier found the back of the net for the winner.

Box Score

In the night cap it was top seeded Amherst flexing their muscle en-route to a 4-0 Victory over the host Gusties. Junior Goaltender Caroline Hu was solid and a clear reason for Amherst's success stopping all 24 chances that came her way.Stephanie Clegg gave Amherst an early edge on the Power Play as she beat Danielle Justice with a shot that deflected off a Gustavus defender. The sequence began as Randi Zukas set up Amherst with a pretty chest deflection as a pass to Kirsten Dier who fed Clegg the puck. The Lady Jeffs would strike again on the Power Play in the second as Kirsten Dier gave her team a 2-0 lead after Gustavus came out firing to begin the period. The Gusties would be undaunted in their attempts to get back in the game but Hu and the Jeffs Defense kept finding ways to shut the door. Amherst would add two more goals in the third period as Megan Curry picked up and unassisted tally and Kate Dennett potted an empty netter with less than a minute to play.

Box Score

Saturday's Schedule
Third Place Game - 3:30pm
Elmira @ Gustavus

Championship Game - 7:00pm
Norwich vs. Amherst