Boxscore
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Lindsay Grigg's goal with just 2:30 gone in overtime dashed the national championship hopes of the Plattsburgh State women's hockey team as the Cardinals suffered a 2-1 loss to the host RIT Tigers in the NCAA Semifinal game.
Recent games between these two teams have been close ones and Friday's game proved no different as momentum bounced back and forth between both benches.
The Tigers struck first at the 11:29 mark of the first period on a goal by Marissa Maugeri. Ali Hills and Erin Zach assisted to give RIT a 1-0 lead that would hold until late in the third period.
Although the Cardinals struggled to find the back of the net, they had numerous quality scoring chances throughout the night. In the first period, Teal Gove saw a great chance on the doorstep turned away by RIT goaltender Laura Chamberlain. Shannon Stewart and Morgan MacInnis poked at the rebounds but were unable to get one by Chamberlain who recorded 33 saves in the win.
In the second period with Plattsburgh on the power play, Stewart made a nice pass to Gove in front of the net, but Chamberlain made a sprawling save to keep the Cardinals off the board.
With 2:38 gone in the third period, Kylie Klassen took a shot that was redirected by Jenny Kistner but again Chamberlain denied the Cardinals.
Midway through the final period Plattsburgh suffered a bad break as Allison Era ripped a shot from the point that was stopped by Chamberlain. Fisher knocked the rebound over Chamberlain and the puck bounced off the back of the RIT goalie's leg, landing between her legs in front of the goal line. A scramble at the goal before the net was dislodged sent the play to video review where the officials ruled no goal for the Cardinals.
Plattsburgh finally broke through with 4:55 remaining in regulation when Rutherford deflected a Kistner shot to tie it at 1-all and send the game to overtime.
At 17:30 of sudden victory overtime, Grigg batted the puck out of the air and over Plattsburgh goaltender Sydney Aveson to send the Tigers to the Championship Game Saturday at 7 p.m.
The Cardinals held a slight 34-31 advantage in shots on goal. Aveson gave Plattsburgh an outstanding effort with 29 saves.
Plattsburgh will take the ice tomorrow for the third-place game at 3:30 p.m. and will player the loser of the matchup between Norwich and Gustavus Adolphus.
