PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State women's hockey team is set to make its 10^th NCAA appearance, beginning with the NCAA Division III Women's Ice Hockey Quarterfinals against Williams at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena Saturday afternoon. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. and the puck drops at 3 p.m.
 
Ticket Information
Tickets are $6 general admission and $4 for college students with valid ID. Ticket sales will begin at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Field House Box Office.
 
Multimedia Links
Saturday's NCAA Quarterfinal matchup will be available through a number of outlets at the links provided below:
 
Live Stats
Live Video – Courtesy of Northeast Sports Network
Live Audio – Courtesy of WIRY 1340 AM
 
Road To The Tournament
The Plattsburgh State women's hockey team defeated Elmira, 4-3, last weekend to earn its second-straight ECAC Women's West title and secure the automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Women's Ice Hockey Tournament. Saturday's game will mark the Cardinals third-straight trip to the tournament and 10th overall. Plattsburgh State owns a 13-8 record all-time in the tournament and a 9-0 record against Williams.
 
After spending 17 weeks atop the USCHO.com Division III poll, the Cardinals enter the tournament with a 25-1-1 record. Plattsburgh State boasts a trio of players with 30 or more points as junior forward Shannon Stewart leads the way with 16 goals and 33 points. Sophomore Bridget Balisy comes into the weekend with 32 points while senior Chelsea VanGlahn is third with 30 points. With 13 players in double-digits, the Cardinals have outscored their opponents, 135-16, this season.
 
In the midst of a record-breaking season, goaltender Sydney Aveson was named ECAC West Player of the Year with a 19-1-1 record and 13 shutouts. Aveson ranks first in the nation with a 0.52 goals-against average and a .972 save percentage.
 
Coming into Saturday's game, the Cardinals boast the nation's top offense (5.00 goals per game) and defense (0.59 goals per game). Plattsburgh State's power play ranks seventh, converting 22.4 percent of its chances (22-for-98), while the penalty-kill unit is the best in Division III at 95.3 percent (81-for-85).
 
Scouting the Ephs
 
Third-year head coach Meghan Gillis guided the Ephs (15-9-3) to a third place finish in the NESCAC regular season and then to the program's first NESCAC Championship on Sunday defeating Bowdoin 4-1 to earn the first automatic bid in program history. The Ephs will be making their second appearance in the NCAA Tournament, having debuted in 2003 with an at-large bid. Williams is 0-1 in tournament play.
 
Offensively, the Ephs are led by NESCAC Player of the Year Cristina Bravi. Bravi, a senior forward, comes into the weekend with 20 goals and 20 assists for 40 points. NESCAC Rookie of the Year Hanna Beattie ranks second with 32 points while sophomore forward Michaela Levine has contributed 20 points.
 
Junior goaltender Chloe Billadeau has played the majority of minutes between the pipes for the Ephs, bringing an 8-6-3 record to Plattsburgh. In 17 games, Billadeau has posted a 2.56 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage.
 
The Ephs average 3.19 goals per game while allowing 2.52 goals per game. Williams' power-play unit ranks 10th in the country at 20.8 percent (26-for-125) while the Ephs' penalty kill is operating at 80.2 percent (81-for-101).