Box Score

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. - Senior D Eric Tallent scored the game-winning goal midway through the third period, and senior G Ryan Klingensmith made 23 saves as the No. 2-ranked Norwich University men's ice hockey team remained undefeated with a 3-1 victory over 10th-ranked Middlebury College Friday evening at Chip Kenyon Arena.                                

The first period featured some entertaining up and down hockey, and it was Middlebury (10-4-4, 6-3-4 NESCAC) that struck late in the frame when Charlie Townsend potted his fifth goal of the season off a feed from Jak Knelman at the 16:22 mark. Townsend beat Norwich senior G Ryan Klingensmith from the right-hand circle with a low shot to the goaltender's stick side to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.

Norwich (16-0-4, 12-0-2 ECAC East) tied the score late in the second period when freshman F Pier-Oliver Cotnoir scored a short-handed goal at the 19:31 mark. Cotnoir was tripped on the play as he maneuvered through the slot area, and the referees were ready to whistle a penalty against Middlebury when the first-year performer scored while falling to the ice in the left-hand circle. It appeared as though Panther goaltender John Yanchek may have relaxed just a bit after the penalty was signaled, and Cotnoir took full advantage by slipping the puck through the goalie's legs. Junior F Chad Anderson was credited with an assist on the goal, which was Cotnoir's sixth of the season.

The Cadets were whistled for four straight penalties in the second period, but they were able to kill them all off, and then tally the equalizer late in the frame.

Norwich moved in front for the first time in the contest midway through the third period when senior D Eric Tallent scored off a pretty feed from senior F D.J. Fimiani. Tallent started the play when he hit Fimiani with a pass in the neutral zone. Fimiani then carried the puck into the Middlebury zone before sliding a pass from the left-hand circle over to Tallent, who buried a shot past Yanchek to make it 2-1 at the 11:54 mark. The goal, which was Tallent's seventh of the year, came during a four-on-four situation. The go-ahead marker also was scored just moments after Middlebury had a goal disallowed.

Sophomore D Shawn Baker capped the scoring at the 18:47 mark when he added an empty-net goal. The goal, which was Baker's third of the season, was also the Cadets second short-handed goal of the contest.

Norwich outshot Middlebury, 27-24, in the contest.

Norwich will close out its four-game road trip on Saturday, Feb. 6, when the Cadets travel to Williamstown, Mass., to battle NESCAC rival Williams College at 3 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on WDEV (AM 550/FM 96.1), and online (www.cadetsradio.com).