PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State women's ice hockey team captured its fourth Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) West title in as many years after defeating the Utica College Pioneers 8-0 Sunday afternoon.
 
The Cardinals dominated from the beginning, netting four goals in the opening 20 minutes of action.
 
Freshman, Karen Hudson would get Plattsburgh State going after directing a puck that Melissa Sheeran threw towards the net past Utica goalie Keira Goin on the back post.
 
Kayla Meneghin would net the first of three power play goals for the Cardinals 13:04 into the first period. The sophomore corralled the puck in the left corner boards before carrying the puck along the goal line for a shot. The puck would bounce of a Utica defenseman's skate and through the five-hole of Goin for a 2-0 lead.
 
Plattsburgh State would break it open shortly after as the Cardinals scored two goals within a minute to take a 4-0 lead. First was Jordan Lipson jamming home a rebound from an Erin Brand shot off the right point. Freshman Courtney Moriarty would answer with a power play goal deflecting a Megan Delay shot from the left point past Goin.
 
In the second period, the Cardinals would tally two more as Melissa Ames and Sheeran would register the Cardinal goals. Ames deflected a Bridget Balisy shot from the left point on the power play to make it 5-0. Three minutes later, Sheeran would receive a pass from Meneghin and then put a nifty deke on Goin for the finishing touch.
 
Again in the third period, the Cardinals would add two more goals to finish off the 8-0 win.
 
Moriarty and Lipson would both get their second of the game as Moriarty scored shorthanded to make it 7-0 and Lipson again would clean up a rebound with 1:47 left in the game to make it 8-0.
 
Camille Leonard pitched a 17 save shutout for Plattsburgh State while Goin made 42 saves in the losing effort.
 
With the win, top ranked Plattsburgh State improves to 26-1-0 on the season and earns an automatic bid into the 2016 NCAA Division III Women's Ice Hockey Tournament. The Cardinals will learn their fate on location and opponent Monday morning at 10 a.m., when the NCAA Division III Women's Ice Hockey Selection Show takes place. The show can be watched live on ncaa.com.
 
 
2016 ECAC West All-Tournament Team:
Forward – Utica – Morgan Reed
Forward – Utica – Emily Coope
Forward – Plattsburgh – Courtney Moriarty
Defense – Utica – Samantha Husak
Defense – Plattsburgh – Andrea Ziesmann
Goalie – Plattsburgh – Camille Leonard
Most Outstanding Player – Plattsburgh – Melissa Sheeran