2022 NCAA Division III Tournament Quarterfinals

Colby (16-5-1) at Plattsburgh State (24-2-1)

Saturday, March 12, 2022 • 3 p.m. • Plattsburgh, N.Y. • Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena

Live Stats • Live Video • Live Audio (1340 AM WIRY)

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State women's ice hockey team continues its journey towards capturing its eighth NCAA Division III national title on Saturday, March 12, at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena, as the Cardinals host Colby College at 3 p.m. in the NCAA Division III Tournament quarterfinals.
 
TICKET PRICING: Ticket prices are $6 for adults and $4 for senior citizens and children 12 and under. Children under the age of 2 are free. In addition, current SUNY Plattsburgh students (with valid ID) will be admitted free of charge courtesy of the SUNY Plattsburgh Student Association.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES: Plattsburgh State leads the all-time series against Colby College, 5-0-0. The series dates back to 2002-03, and their most recent contest took place on Feb. 10, 2007, where the Cardinals won 8-0.
 
ABOUT THE CARDINALS: Plattsburgh State (24-2-1, 17-0-1 NEWHL) has won seven NCAA Division III national championships, including five of the last six. The Cardinals have advanced to the national semifinals for eight straight seasons, excluding the 2020-21 national championship which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Cardinals qualified for the NCAA Tournament by receiving an automatic bid after winning the NEWHL championship. The Cardinals enter Saturday's contest on a 19-game unbeaten streak. Plattsburgh State is currently ranked No. 2 in the USCHO.com Women's Division III Top-10 poll. The Cardinals are coming off a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory in the NEWHL championship game against SUNY Cortland that took place on Saturday, March 5. Senior forward Nicole Unsworth (Milwaukee, Wis./East Coast Wizards) scored the game-winning goal just 59 seconds into the first overtime period. Several student-athletes help contribute toward the Cardinals' dangerous offense. The Cardinals lead the nation in scoring (5.78 goals per game) and power-play percentage (.356). Graduate student forward Annie Katonka (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pittsburgh Penguins elite) leads the way with a team-high 55 points off of 32 goals and 23 assists. Katonka's 32 goals leads all of Division III women's hockey. Senior forward Sara Krauseneck (Saginaw, Mich./Northern Cyclones) is second on the team in scoring with 52 points off of 20 goals and 32 assists. Krauseneck is tied for fourth in the nation in points per game average (1.93). Junior forward Ivy Boric (Newport Beach, Calif./ Anaheim Lady Ducks) ranks eighth in that same statistical category (1.65). Boric's 43 points come by way of 16 goals and 27 assists. The Cardinals' defense is led by standout first-year defenseman Mattie Norton (Glen Carbon, Ill./ St. Louis Lady Blues), who has 28 points off of four goals and 24 assists. Graduate student defenseman Erin McArdle (Macomb, Mich./Belle Tire) has 27 points by way of four goals and 23 assists. The Cardinals' scoring defense ranks 11th in the nation (1.37 goals against average). Plattsburgh State racked up numerous NEWHL postseason awards. Katonka, Krauseneck, McArdle and senior defenseman Sierra Benjamin were named to the All-NEWHL First Team, with Katonka earning her second consecutive NEWHL Player of the Year honor. Unsworth was selected to the All-NEWHL Second Team. Head coach Kevin Houle currently holds a 425-51-25 record in his 18 years behind the Cardinal bench.
 
ABOUT THE MULES: Colby (16-5-1, 11-4-1 NESCAC) is coming off of a 2-1 overtime loss against Amherst College in the NESCAC semifinals. The Mules qualified for the NCAA Tournament by way of an at-large bid, earning just one of three at-large bids into the field. The Mules are ranked at No. 9 in the USCHO.com Division III women's hockey poll. The Mules are led by senior forward Lexi Cafiero, who has 11 goals and 16 assists for 27 points. Sophomore forward Meg Rittenhouse has 11 goals and 10 assists for 21 points. Senior forward McKinley Karpa has eight goals and nine assists for 17 points on the season. Senior goaltender Nina Prunster has posted a 1.08 goals against average and a .959 save percentage in 15 games played this season. Head coach Molley Tyng is behind the bench for her fifth year.
 
WHAT'S NEXT: The winner of Saturdays contest will advance to the NCAA Division III Tournament semifinals on Friday, March 18, and will face either the University of Wisconsin-River Falls or Gustavus Adolphus College.