College Hockey Stats Box Score

GENEVA, N.Y. – The top-ranked Plattsburgh State women's ice hockey team passed its first of many tests in its pursuit of a fourth straight NCAA Division III title Saturday, slipping by William Smith College, 2-1, in the Cardinals' regular-season and Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) West opener at the Cooler.
 
William Smith kept the final margin at one goal despite being outshot 54-16. William Smith's junior goaltender Maggie Salmon stood on her head in the loss, making 52 stops. The Cardinals converted 2-of-7 power-play opportunities in the contest, while the Herons went 1-for-4 with the extra skater.
 
Plattsburgh State rises to 1-0-0 overall (1-0-0 ECAC West) with the win and closes out the weekend series against William Smith tomorrow at 4 p.m. William Smith drops to 2-1-0 overall (0-1-0 ECAC West) with the loss.
 
William Smith took an early lead, scoring at 5:22 of the first period on a power-play chance. Sophomore Stephanie Hampton went top shelf on the goal off passes from junior Krista Federow and sophomore Maura Mulligan.
 
Plattsburgh State countered with one minute left in the first period on the power play, as senior Erin Brand (Long Beach, N.Y./Syracuse University) fired a shot from the point that trickled through William Smith's goaltender's pads into the back of the net. Junior Kayla Meneghin (Clifton, N.J./The Gunnery) and senior Julia Duquette (North Tonawanda, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons U-19) were credited with assists on the play. Senior Jordan Lipson (Davis, Calif./Pomfret School) put the Cardinals on top at 13:17 of the second period, firing a wrist shot past the Heron goalie from the right faceoff circle. Brand earned an assist on the play to finish with a game-high two points.
 
Senior goaltender Camille Leonard (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Jr. Hornets) made 15 saves in the Plattsburgh State victory, including 10 stops in the third period.