After going winless in three attempts against Babson this season, including a 2-1 loss in the ECAC East championship game last weekend, Norwich finally broke through against the Beavers in the most important game, getting a 4-0 shutout Saturday night in a quarterfinal NCAA tournament game at Kreitzberg Arena.
Kyle Thomas scored twice and Chris Duszynski potted two assists to lead the Norwich offense. Chris Czarnota made 14 saves in earning his third shutout of the season.
Shane Gorman got Norwich on the board near the midway point of the first when he slid a backhand inside the left post past Babson goalie Zeke Testa.
Thomas got his first with just 21 seconds left in the first when he ripped a wrist shot five-hole.
Despite outshooting the Beavers, 17-3, in the second, the Cadets couldn’t solve Testa again, who stoned Janke on a two-on-one rush with Tory Allan at 9:55.
Late in the third, Babson coach Jamie Rice pulled Testa for an extra skater with just under four minutes to go, but the Cadets added two more empty-net goals from Blake Forkey and Thomas to secure the win.
The Cadets will be making their fourth straight NCAA Division III Frozen Four appearance next weekend in facing SUNYAC champ Oswego, which beat Adrian in overtime. Though both Oswego and Norwich have played the last four Frozen Fours, this will be their first meeting. Faceoff is at 4 p.m. Friday.
