Box score
PINE VALLEY, N.Y. – In a highly-anticipated matchup between the top two teams in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) West Division, the top-ranked Plattsburgh State women's hockey team suffered its first setback of the season in a 2-0 loss at No. 3 Elmira on Friday night at the Murray Athletic Center.
Despite some early chances for Elmira, the Cardinals were able to keep the Soaring Eagles off the board but Elmira broke through just as the first period was coming to a close. Plattsburgh State goaltender Sydney Aveson denied Ashton Hogan's shot from the point but Cassidy Delainey scored off the rebound to give Elmira a 1-0 lead with 47 seconds left in the first.
Plattsburgh State had a pair of golden opportunities to even things up in the second period with the first coming at the 16:48 mark when there was a scrum in front of the Elmira net, but Soaring Eagles' goaltender Lisa Marshall dove on the loose puck after making a pair of saves. Then, at the 8:15 mark, Plattsburgh State caused a turnover in Elmira's defensive zone and fired a shot through traffic but it would deflect off the pipe as the Cardinals remained scoreless.
The Cardinals came out firing in the third period, outshooting the Soaring Eagles 14-3 through the final 20 minutes but Elmira held on to its 1-0 lead. With less than a minute to play, Aveson went to the bench for the extra attacker but Plattsburgh State failed to capitalize before Hogan scored an empty-netter to give Elmira the 2-0 win.
Aveson allowed one goal and recorded 22 saves in the loss for Plattsburgh State. Marshall made 37 stops in the Soaring Eagles' win.
The loss snaps a 19-game unbeaten streak for the Cardinals that dated back to March 16, 2013 and marks the first time this season that the Cardinals have allowed more than one goal. Plattsburgh State drops to 17-1-1 on the year and 10-1-0 in league play. Elmira improves to 16-3-1 overall and 11-0-0 in the ECAC West to take over sole possession of the top spot in the conference standings.
Plattsburgh State will look for a quick rebound as the same two teams return to the ice tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. to wrap up the weekend series.
