Box Score
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – After a month-long hiatus, it took some time for the top-ranked Plattsburgh State women’s team to get back in the swing of things. Trailing 2-0 through 39 minutes, the Cardinals scored four unanswered goals en route to a 4-2 victory against No. 5 Norwich Sunday afternoon at the Stafford Ice Arena.
With the victory, Plattsburgh State improves to 11-0-1 on the year. Norwich drops to 6-2-3 overall.
Norwich was all over Plattsburgh through much of the first two periods in Sunday’s non-conference matchup. The Cadets cashed in an early power play when Kayla Parsons ripped a shot from the point that beat Plattsburgh goaltender Sydney Aveson top shelf at 5:46 of the first period, giving Norwich a 1-0 lead.
Plattsburgh, who outshot Norwich 6-4 in the first 20 minutes, came to life later in the period. The Cardinals threw a number of shots at the Norwich net, but Kelly Fisk kept Plattsburgh off the board.
Midway through the second period, Cadets’ leading scorer Tori Charron lifted a shot over Aveson’s glove to make it 2-0 in favor of Norwich.
The Cardinals were able to swing the momentum their way at the 19:49 mark of the second when Shannon Stewart was able to bang home a puck in front to bring Plattsburgh within one. Teal Gove and Jenny Kistner picked up assists on the power-play marker.
Plattsburgh came out of the locker room flying in the third, dominating play for the final 20 minutes. Teal Gove scored the equalizer with just 1:46 gone in the third with her shot rolling through crease and over the goal line to the right of Fisk.
The 2-2 score held until Ali Vakos stole the puck at the blue line and beat Fisk one-on-one to put the Cardinals in front at 13:31 of the third period. Vakos, a junior forward who transferred from UConn, tallied a goal and an assist in her debut for Plattsburgh State.
Mia Favretto added an insurance goal 51 seconds later with a blast from the right point from Andrea Ziesmann and Vakos.
Norwich called a timeout with 2:12 and pulled Fisk for the extra skater, but the Cadets were unable to close the gap.
The Cardinals finished the evening with a 30-18 edge in shots on goal, including a 14-6 margin in the third period. Both sides went 1-for-2 on the power play.
Aveson earned her eighth win with 16 saves. Fisk stopped 26 shots for Norwich in the loss.
Today’s game was the start of a six-game homestand for the Cardinals. Plattsburgh returns to league play Saturday and Sunday with a two-game series against Oswego State. Both games are set for 3 p.m. at the Stafford Ice Arena.
