Box Score
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – After trailing 1-0 after the first period to SUNY Potsdam, the Plattsburgh State women’s hockey team dominated the final 40 minutes to defeat the Bears, 8-1, in an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) West Division game at the Stafford Ice Arena Tuesday evening.
The Cardinal offense took a while to get going, allowing Potsdam (0-3-0, 0-1-0 ECAC West) to grab 1-0 lead at 13:33 of the first period on a goal by Kakia Ashley. Nadine Cunningham took a shot from the top of the near circle, which appeared to get a piece of a Cardinal player in front of the net. The puck bounced to the right of Cardinal goaltender Sydney Aveson and Ashley was there to knock it in.
Plattsburgh (4-0-1, 3-0-0 ECAC West) tied it up at the 3:00 mark of the second period on Emma Rutherford’s first of the year. Rutherford intercepted a pass in the neutral zone before losing control of the puck in the slot. Jenny Kistner took a swing at the loose puck before Rutherford picked it up again and fired a shot that beat Potsdam goalie Jen Conophy top-shelf.
Just 46 seconds later, the Cardinals would take the lead and not look back. Allison Era took a shot from the point that was stopped by Conophy. Kistner sent the rebound through the crease and behind a diving Conophy before Jordan Caldwell buried the puck in the open net to make it 2-1.
Teal Gove and Caitlin Gilligan tacked on two more in the period, giving the Cardinals a 4-1 lead at the end of second.
Rutherford netted her second of the night with a wrap-around goal at 4:49 of the third period. Less than a minute later, Gove took a centering pass from Morgan MacInnis and after a couple attempts was able to knock one past Conophy to stretch the Plattsburgh lead to 6-1.
Breanne Bennett scored at 10:44 of the final stanza on a give-and-go with Rutherford before Melissa McIver scored her first of the year with 3.6 seconds remaining in regulation to round out the scoring.
Rutherford, Gove and Kistner each contributed three points in the victory.
The Cardinals doubled up the Bears, 40-20, in shots on goal. Aveson earned her second win of the year with 19 saves. Conophy recorded 32 stops in the loss for Potsdam.
After three games in four days, Plattsburgh will get a bit of a break with an off-weekend. The Cardinals return to action on Saturday, Nov. 17 when Bowdoin makes the trip to the Stafford Ice Arena. The non-conference game is set for 2 p.m.
