Middlebury stumps Cadets 6-3

By Paul Smegal
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

Tuesday evening, Jan. 23, two excellent teams competed in the Kreitzberg Arena, leaving the home team with a loss, but not without dignity. Top seeded Middlebury got the edge on third ranked Norwich, but not without a fight.

Norwich, now 12-2-1 (8-1 league), had a slow start against rival Middlebury. After the end of the first period, the cadets were left scoreless as Middlebury took the lead, 1-0, but no one was prepared for what the second period would entail.

The Cadets came out of the locker room a little discouraged, and a quick goal by Eric Dalton started what seemed to be the end. Dalton, a sophomore for Middlebury, went against the grain and netted an excellent shot to start a second period rally for Middlebury.

A defensive breakdown for the Cadets led to four unanswered goals for Middlebury in the second period of the game. This was the second straight game that Middlebury rallied in the second period to net four goals. Though it sounds like a wash-up, the Cadets tried with all of their might, but Middlebury's goalie, Carlson, was blocking everything they could dish out.

"It was a tough thing to handle coming in from the second period being down 5-0, especially in your own arena, but we wanted to make it respectable in the end", said player Marshall Lee, 22, a communications major from Calgary, Alberta.

The Cadets went back to the locker room down 5-0 at the end of the second, fans hoping for a burst of energy. With Coach McShane trying to settle down his troops, the seniors took over and got a spark going in the rest of the team.

"Third period, the seniors showed a lot of leadership to get the younger kids going and came out strong to make it a game", said team member Phil Aucoin, 19, a freshman computer information systems major from Chelmsford, Mass..

The Cadets fired up in the third period which gave way to three unanswered goals within 2:30, bringing the score a little closer, now 5-3. Keith Aucoin, captain of the team, was credited for an assist by the post as he netted a goal and moved one step closer to the Norwich assist leader. After Tuesday's game, Aucoin is eight assists away from being the all-time assist leader.

With just under a few minutes to go in the third period, Coach McShane pulled the goalie, giving the Cadets one extra shooter on the ice. The Cadets, unable to capitalize with the extra man, gave up a final goal to Middlebury, ending the game 6-3.

"Middlebury is a tough team; I'm sure they'll come out to play against Salem St.", said Kyle Flanagan, 21, a criminal justice major from Methuen, Mass. With a tough home loss, the Cadets are sure to come out fired up for Saturday's game against Salem State.

"It's disappointing to see our boys in the maroon and gold lose an important game, but we'll always be proud of them", said Dan Leisge, 22, a civil engineering major from Portsmouth, RI and avid fan.

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