College Hockey Stats Box Score
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – In a rematch of last year's Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Women's West Championship final, the top-ranked Plattsburgh State women's ice hockey team knocked off nationally-regarded Utica College, 6-2, in ECAC Women's West action at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena on Saturday. The Cardinals improve to 15-1 overall and 9-1 in the league, while the Pioneers are 9-6 and 4-4. Plattsburgh State's ranking is according to the latest U.S. College Hockey Online (USCHO) and D3hockey.com Division III national polls, while Utica is receiving votes toward both national polls.
Six Plattsburgh State players chipped in goals. Junior
Megan Crandell (Fullerton, Calif./Saint Norbert) turned in a career-high four points on one goal and three assists, while sophomore
Mackenzie Millen (Anchorage, Alaska/North American Hockey Academy) had one goal and one assist. Senior
Melissa Ames (Rochester, N.Y./Pittsburgh Penguins Elite U-19), sophomore
Ashley Songin (Springville, N.Y./Nichols School) and freshmen
Meghan Kraus (Fort Lewis, Wash./Northern Cyclones) and
Sarah Wolf (Fairport, N.Y./Boston Shamrocks Elite U-19) each scored once, with classmate
Hannah Kiraly (Newport Beach, Calif./Northern Cyclones) providing two assists. Seniors
Erin Brand (Long Beach, N.Y./Syracuse) and
Jordan Lipson (Davis, Calif./Pomfret School) and sophomore
Maci Hoskins (Oklahoma City, Okla./Northwood School) each assisted once and senior
Julia Duquette (North Tonawanda, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons U-19) played her 100th career game. Senior
Camille Leonard (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Jr. Hornets) made 17 saves for the win.
Utica seniors Emily Coope and Jane Pagano scored, with sophomore Danielle Haasbeek assisting. Junior Meghan Power won 12 faceoffs and classmate Amanda Lupo stopped 37 shots.
The hosts scored four consecutive goals in the opening 17 minutes of the game. After a failed Utica defensive zone clear attempt, Hoskins gathered the puck on the right halfboards and sent a pass over to Wolf, whose high-slot shot went through Lupo's legs at 3:20. Crandell added to the lead at 7:57 when her low wrister deflected off of a Pioneer defender and into the right side. Ames scored a power-play goal 45 seconds later after knocking in a rebound from Crandell's initial point shot. Kraus then made the game a 4-0 affair when her backhanded breakaway shot beat Lupo blocker side at 16:48. Coope cut into the deficit for Utica after going end-to-end and sending a wrist shot into the top left corner at 17:33. The Pioneers were also denied on a couple of chances that clanged off of the crossbar in the opening stanza.
Both sides went scoreless in the second period, despite the Cardinals owning an 11-3 shot advantage. The visitors made the score 4-2 at 9:14 of the third period after Pagano snapped a low-angle left side power-play shot just under the crossbar. However, Songin power-play score at 11:28 and Millen's tally 1:49 later gave the hosts its final 6-2 margin.
Plattsburgh State is back again tomorrow at 3 p.m. to host Utica.
