MIDDLEBURY, Vt. - The top-ranked Plattsburgh State women's hockey team began the spring semester on Sunday with a 2-1 setback at the hands of No. 2 Amherst in the second semifinal of the Panther-Cardinal Classic hosted by Middlebury College at Kenyon Arena. The No. 3-rated host Panthers fell to No. 5 Elmira 3-2 in overtime in the other semifinal game. Amherst will play the Soaring Eagles for the championship on Monday at 4 p.m., followed by the third-place game between Middlebury and Plattsburgh at 7 p.m.  BOXSCORE

Randi Zukas scored the game-winning goal with 4 minutes and 48 seconds left in the game on assists by Alyssa Chwick and Emily Vitale. Plattsburgh (7-1) pulled goaltender Mandy Mackrell in favor of an extra attacker with 25 seconds remaining, but couldn't get the equalizer.

After Brittney Evans' first goal of the season in the first period gave Amherst (6-0-2) a 1-0 advantage, Laurie Bowler tied it on a feed from Steph Moon midway through the third.

Mackrell made 26 saves to keep the Cardinals within striking distance.

Amherst also had the advantage in shots on goal (28 to 10) to trigger the following facts in Plattsburgh history: the first time the Cardinals have been outshot this season, the fewest attempted (9) since a 3-1 loss at Clarkson on  Feb. 15, 2005, and the widest margin allowed (20) since a 2-2 overtime tie at Elmira on Feb. 3, 2002.