MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – The No. 3 ranked Plattsburgh State women's ice hockey took down the SUNY Morrisville Mustangs 6-0 for their third straight State University of New York Athletic Conference win to begin the season.
Julia Masotta (Tewksbury, Mass. /Norwich) tallied three points with two goals and an assist, while
Ava Mattaliano (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich./Belle Tire) and
Emily Kasprzak (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Pittsburgh Penguins Elite) each scored their first collegiate goals.
The Plattsburgh women's ice hockey team is ranked third in the current USCHO.com Division III Top-15 poll.
Along with goals from Masotta, Kasprzak, and Mattaliano,
Emma McLean (Burlington, Mass./Pomfret School) and
Bridget Orr (Excelsior, Minn./North American Hockey Academy) each tallied scores. Masotta, Kasprzak, Orr,
Mae Olshansky (Wilmette, Ill./North American Hockey Academy), and
Su-An Cho (Madison, Ala./Florida Alliance) each had assists in the win.
Lilla Nease (Lake Forest, Calif./Anaheim Lady Ducks) earned her second shutout of the season and third win with a 17-save performance on Saturday evening.
The Cardinals won the shot battle 49-17 while both teams went scoreless on two power play opportunities.
Plattsburgh State moves to 3-0 (3-0 SUNYAC) and next welcomes Norwich to the Stafford Ice Arena for a matchup with No. 13 ranked Norwich on Tuesday, Nov. 14. SUNY Morrisville falls to 2-3 (1-3 SUNYAC) and next travels to Buffalo State on Friday, Nov. 17.
Despite the clear possession and shot advantage by Plattsburgh throughout the time, it was a long period of time before the Cardinals were able to come through with a goal as Morrisville's goalie Elizabeth Timby made 16 saves in the first period and had 17 total in the second period. Plattsburgh finally broke the scoreless tie with less than two minutes remaining in the second period, as Orr came through for the goal, assisted by Masotta. Mattaliano tallied her first career goal just over a minute later, unassisted, finally giving the Cards a bit of cushion with a 2-0 lead.
In the third period, the shot barrage continued from Plattsburgh, but the goals finally started to come with a four-score period. Masotta added the third goal of the game with help from Orr and then added the next on a penalty, for her second score of the game and third point of the game. The graduate student forward is off to a torrid start to her 2023-24 campaign, tallying eight points over the team's first three games.
McLean and Kasprzak added the final two goals of the game in the waning minutes of action, with McLean scoring her first goal of the season at the 16:47 mark and Kasprzak notching her first collegiate goal at the 19:08 mark.
For the Mustangs, Kimberly made 43 saves while Allie Davidson led the team with six shots on goal.
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