MIDDLETOWN, R.I. -- THe hosting Salve Regina University men's ice hockey team dropped 6-1 to the visiting Norwich University Cadets on Saturday night at Howard Rink in the 2026 NCAA DIII Tournament Quarterfinals after the Cadets got ahead early and carried that momentum through the contest.

Cadets' Frank D'Ancona was the first to strike with 4:29 gone from the clock in the first period. Before the first frame concluded Jed Brazo and Nick Cordeiro added to the tally to put Norwich in the lead 3-0 going into the intermission. 

Seahawks' Jack Arizo had the sole goal of the evening with a shot from the low slot at 6:51 in the third period. Arizo's strike was the final points of the contest, however the Cadets' established lead remained firm.

Salve Regina received an at-large bid to the dance after finishing the regular season with a 20-4-0 overall record as an independent team. In their first year in the Little East, Norwich claimed the conference title 4-1 over Babson College to earn an automatic bid to the NCAAs. Both the Seahawks and the Cadets reunite after being conference members of the New England Hockey Conference in 2024-25, before it disbanded. 

Salve Regina's last appearance in the NCAA tournament was the 2017-18 campaign, when the Seahawks advanced to the national championship game. In a thrilling, fast-paced game St. Norbert College defeated Salve Regina 3-2 in double-overtime to claim the DIII men's ice hockey national championship. This marked the Seahawks first NCAA championship appearance in university history in a title game for any sport.

2022-23 was the Cadets' most recent NCAA appearance. After dropping 4-0 to Babson in the NEHC Quarterfinals Norwich received at at-large bid to the NCAAs and advanced to the quarterfinals. The Cadets were bested by Endicott College, 3-0.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Norwich University 6, Salve Regina University 1
Records: Salve Regina (20-5-0), Norwich University (19-5-4)

• Norwich outshot Salve Regina 35-34.
• Seahawk goalie Selby Warren made 29 saves.
• Cadet goalie Sami Molu picked up his 13th win of the season.

ON THE HORIZON
The Cadets advance to the NCAA Tournament Semifinals on Saturday, March 21, at 7 p.m. Norwich will travel to play Hamilton, who won their respective Quarterfinal 6-2 over Neumann University. Salve Regina concludes the 2025-26 campaign and will compete as a member of the CNE for the 2026-27 season.