Barbato's Late Goal Lifts St. Norbert in NCHA Opener

From Asst. AD/Athletics Communications, November 1, 2018 | Women's Hockey
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

ROCKFORD, Ill. - St. Norbert College got a late goal from sophomore forward Libby Barbato and went on to claim a 2-1 win over Aurora University in a rare Thursday Northern Collegiate Hockey Association game at BMO Harris Bank Center.

Barbato scored with 1:42 remaining with assists from Kennedy Kiecker and Kelli Sorge to snap a 1-1 tie on her first goal of the season. The Spartans brought an extra attacker on for the final 93 seconds, but couldn't net the equalizer.

St. Norbert (1-1, 1-0 NCHA) took an early lead when Jessica Schlaff scored for the second time on the young season with a power-play marker just 3:32 into the game. Libbie Doney assisted.

The goal would hold up until Aurora's Lauren Zielecki scored at 11:45 of the second period to square the game 1-1.

The Green Knights outshot the Spartans 32-21, including 11-4 in the decisive third period. St. Norbert converted 1 of 9 power-play chances, while Aurora was 0-for-4.

Anais Aurard made 20 saves for St. Norbert to earn her first collegiate win. Becca Binder turned away 30 shots for Aurora.