NORTHFIELD, Vt. – A total of six goals through the first two periods, carried the top-seeded Cadets of Norwich University to a 6-1 win as they defeated women's ice hockey Saturday afternoon at Kreitzberg Arena in the semi-final round of the 2015 ECAC East Tournament.

Scoring the lone marker for the sixth-seeded Beacons was senior Kayla Kiernan (North Smithfield, R.I.) at the 10:22 mark of the first period.  The Cadets would combine for five straight goals over the next 42 plus minutes to secure a spot in this year's championship game, where they will face the fourth-seeded Spartans of Castleton State College.

Kiernan's goal marked the final in her college career, as she along with 10 other seniors played their final game in the Beacons sweater.

Norwich got on the scoreboard first in Saturday's playoff game, as Kaycie Anderson scored an unassisted marker off of a Beacons turnover at the 4:41 mark. Six minutes later Kiernan would battle through the Cadets defense, and beat goaltender Celeste Robert to even the score at one goal a-piece. 

Jess Salisbury (North Smithfield, R.I.) and Jenny Currie (Chelmsford, Mass.) were each credited with an assist on the Beacons goal.

Looking as if the score was going to be locked at one heading into the first intermission, Norwich took advantage of another Beacons turnover to make it a 2-1 game at the 18:50 mark.  Thirty seconds later the game became a two score affair as Anderson scored her second unassisted goal of the day.

 In the second period, Norwich controlled play from start to finish, allowing just two Beacons shots in the frame.  Norwich would see three different players find the back of the net in the period as they took a commanding lead, with only one period left to play.

On the day, the Cadets combined for 28 shots on goal, while UMass finished with 12.  Senior netminder Moe Bradley (Swampscott, Mass.) tallied 22 saves in her final contest.  The Cadets featured all three of their goaltenders, with Robert earning the victory with her six save performance.

UMass closed out their 2014-15 season with an overall record of 10-13-4, and made their third appearance in the semi-final round of the ECAC East Tournament, which was a program first.  Norwich earned their fifth straight 20-win season with Saturday's victory (20-4-3).