PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State women's hockey team captured their third-straight Cardinal-Panther Classic Championship by defeating ECAC west rivals Elmira 4-2 Sunday evening.
 
The Cardinals got on the board when junior defenseman Caitlin Gilligan scored her first of the season.
 
The Burlington, Ontario native received a pass from Shannon Stewart before sending a shot towards the goal from the left point.  The shot was deflected around the circle before sliding five-hole and into the goal.
 
Gilligan's goal would be all the scoring the first period would see as Plattsburgh State took a 1-0 edge into the locker room.
 
The second period would also feature just one goal but this time it was the Soaring Eagles tying it up midway through.
 
After a Plattsburgh State turnover along the boards in the neutral zone, Elmira's Johanna Eidensten would come away with it and skate into Plattsburgh State's zone. She lugged the puck into the left circle before firing a wrist-shot beating Cardinals goaltender Camille Leonard glove-high.
 
 
Stewart broke the tie just twelve seconds into the period on a power play for her eighth of the year. She received a pass from line-mate Jordan Lipson in the Elmira zone before splitting the defense and firing a backhander right on top of the crease to give Plattsburgh State a 2-1 advantage.
 
A pair of freshman would make it 3-1 just 2:32 later as Kayla Meneghin found Melissa Sheeran on the doorstep of the crease. Meneghin received a pass from Giovanna Senese behind the net before swing it out front to Sheeran in front of the net who one-timed it home.
 
With 13:52 remaining in the third period the Cardinals would strike again making it 4-1, again on the power play. Senior defenseman would enjoy her second-straight night with a goal as she received a pass from fellow defenseman Andrea Ziesmann. She shot the puck from the right point, through a crowd of players before the puck found the net.
 
However, for the second-straight night the Cardinals would enjoy a 4-1 lead midway through the third period before letting up a second goal.
 
Eidensten would score her second of the game less than a minute-thirty later when she beat Leonard for the second-time glove-high from inside the right circle. The difference tonight was the Cardinals wouldn't allow another two for Elmira to tie it up as that's as close the Soaring Eagles would get.
 
Leonard would finish the net with 29 saves on 31 shots as she now 3-0-0 on the season. He counterpart Kyle Nelson made 24 saves for the Soaring Eagles on28 shots.
 
Plattsburgh State enjoyed a 1-0-1 weekend against two top four teams and are now 8-0-2 (5-0-0 ECACW) overall before as they travel to Buffalo State Friday for a pair of conference games against the Bengals.
 
Elmira suffered their first loss of the season and is now 7-1-0 (4-0-0 ECACW).
 
GUSTAVOUS ADOLPHUS vs. MIDDLEBURY
Middlebury Claims Third-Place with a 3-2 OT Winner
 
Gustavus Adolphus would score first 3:17 into the first period when Kaitlyn Klein picked the puck in front of the net before making it 1-0 Golden Gusties.

Middlebury would respond in the second when Jane Freda went on a breakaway all alone with the goalie before deeking and scoring, tying the game 1-1.
 
The Panthers would score again 2:40 into the third period when Emily Fluke received a pass in slot from behind the net by Jessica Young. Fluke shot it far side beating the goalie.
 
For the second-straight game the Golden Gusties provide flare for the dramatic when they scored with a pulled goalie in the final minute tying the game a 2-2 and forcing overtime.
 
Middlebury would win in overtime 1:09 into the extra frame when Maddie Winslow scored the game-winner on a rebound from Elizabeth Wulf's initial attempt.
 
Shots in the game were 38-28 in favor of Gustavus Adolphus.
 
2014 UNO Pizzeria and Grill Cardinal-Panther Classic All-Tournament Team:
Middlebury: Forward- Maddie Winslow
Elmira: Forward- Johanna Eidensten
Elmira: Defenseman- Phoebe Piku
Plattsburgh State: Forward- Melissa Sheeran
Plattsburgh State: Defenseman- Mia Favretto
Plattsburgh State: Goalie- Camille Leonard
 
MVP: Plattsburgh State- Forward- Shannon Stewart