Box Score
MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – The Plattsburgh State women’s hockey team used a goal in each period on its way to 3-2 win over Middlebury at the Panther/Cardinal Classic in Kenyon Arena. The top-ranked Cardinals move to 7-0-1 on the season, while the fifth-ranked Panthers suffer their first loss of the year, falling to 3-1-0.
Middlebury had a couple of chances early, with Katie Sullivan missing just wide on a breakaway 30 seconds in. Plattsburgh netminder Sydney Aveson kept the Panthers off the board 6:20 in, making a nice blocker save on Madeline Joyce before denying a blast from the left point by Heather Marrison.
Plattsburgh got on the board first at the 14:56 mark with a power-play goal. Alyssa Parke found the back of the net from the left wing, going five-hole on Annabelle Jones for the 1-0 lead.
The Cardinals took a 2-0 lead early in the second period when Teal Gove took a pass from Morgan MacInnis and cut to the goal, making a nice deke move before finding the back of the net. Middlebury retaliated midway through the period on a great individual move from Emily Fluke. After carrying the puck past center ice and driving to the goal, Fluke saw her spin shot denied by Aveson before putting home her own rebound to make it a 2-1 game.
The Panthers opened the third period on the power play, cashing in just one second after the opportunity had expired. Jennifer Krakower put a shot on from the right point that was finished down low by Hannah Bielawski to tie the game at 2-2.
Plattsburgh scored what proved to be the game-winner at the 11:50 mark with the fourth of the year for Emma Rutherford. After taking a pass from Jenny Kistner, Rutherford circled the net and threw the puck towards the goal, where it bounced off Jones and into the net. Middlebury threatened late and had a few shots with Jones pulled, but could not score the equalizer.
The Panthers held a 31-18 shots advantage in the game. Aveson was the key to victory for Plattsburgh, making 29 saves in the game to earn tournament Most Valuable Player honors. Aveson recorded 39 combined saves over the weekend to help the Cardinals remain unbeaten.
Joining Aveson on the all-tournament squad were Plattsburgh’s Jenny Kistner, Middlebury’s Emily Fluke and Katie Sullivan, Elmira’s Ashton Hogan and Madison Johnston and Amherst’s Tori Salmon.
The Cardinals return to league play this weekend with a two-game series at Buffalo State. Saturday’s game is set for 3 p.m. while the puck drops at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
