Box score
 
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - Ali Vakos provided all the offense for the Cardinals Saturday afternoon, scoring all four goals for the Plattsburgh State women's hockey team in a 4-1 victory over Williams in the NCAA Division III Women's Hockey Quarterfinals at the Stafford Ice Arena.
 
The Ephs (15-10-3) jumped out to an early lead on Gabrielle Vukasin's ninth of the year with just 1:15 off the clock. Ashley Arnold's shot from the right point was redirected in front but Plattsburgh State goaltender Sydney Aveson was able to make the initial save. Vukasin, who was positioned on her knees right in front of the crease, tapped the rebound past Aveson to give Williams the 1-0 lead.
 
Williams held off the Cardinals (26-1-1) through most of the first until Vakos banged in a loose puck with 1:27 left in the first to make it a 1-1 game. Andrea Ziesmann and Giovanna Senese were credited with assists on the equalizer.
 
Plattsburgh State wasted no time scoring the go-ahead goal as Vakos netted her second of the game 28 seconds into the second period. Vakos fired a shot from the right circle that rang off the left post and in behind Williams' goaltender Chloe Billadeau. Senese and Chelsea VanGlahn assisted Vakos on the eventual game-winner.
 
Vakos extended the Cardinals' lead to 3-1 at the 12:11 mark of the second, punching home a rebound off a shot by Chelsea VanGlahn to complete the natural hat trick.
 
Adding one more for good measure, Vakos buried another rebound with 31 seconds gone in the third period for her fourth of the day and 12th  of the year.
 
"I've never had a game like this," said Vakos. "To go to the Final Four is a huge deal and I knew this was the last chance for me, so I had to lay it all on the line."
 
In addition to Vakos' four goals, VanGlahn, Ziesmann and Senese each tallied two assists in the Cardinals' win.
 
"I have to give a lot of credit to my linemates, VanGlahn and Senese," added Vakos. "They both gave me really great opportunities to score."
 
Plattsburgh State outshot Williams, 49-25. The Cardinals went 0-for-3 on the power play while the Ephs were 0-for-2.
 
Aveson improves to 20-1-1 on the year with 24 saves in the win for Plattsburgh State. Billadeau recorded 45 saves in the loss for the Ephs, finishing the season with an 8-7-3 record.
 
With the win, Plattsburgh State advances to the final four for the third-straight season. The Cardinals will serve as the hosts of the 2014 NCAA Division III Women's Ice Hockey Championships and will face St. Thomas (Minn.) in the NCAA semifinals after the Tommies defeated Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 5-0. In other quarterfinal action, Norwich defeated Elmira, 2-1, in overtime to secure its spot in the semifinals. The Cadets will move on to face Wisconsin-River Falls, who skated to a 4-1 win over Lake Forest.
 
Plattsburgh State will take the ice against St. Thomas (Minn.) at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 21 before Norwich and Wisconsin-River Falls face-off at 7 p.m. Saturday's Third-Place game is slated for 3:30 p.m. before the National Champion is crowned at 7 p.m. at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena. More information regarding the 2014 NCAA Division III Women's Ice Hockey Championships will be announced Monday at gocardinalsports.com.