BUFFALO, N.Y. – The No. 7 Plattsburgh State women's ice hockey toppled Buffalo State on Friday evening, taking down the Bengals in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC). First-year Tessa Morris (Grand Island, N.Y./Rome Girl's Hockey) tallied two scores for the Cardinals, while sophomore Emily Kasprzak (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Pittsburg Penguins Elite) added a goal and two assists.  

The Plattsburgh State Cardinals are currently the No. 7 team in the latest USCHO.com Division III Top-15 poll.

First-year forward Kayson Ruegge (Edmond, Okla./Philadelphia Jr. Flyers) joined her linemates, Morris and Kasprzak, with her third goal of the season and fifth-year student Ciara Wall (Somerville, Mass./New Hampshire) also added her third goal of the year to round out the Cardinal scorers. Chloe Lewis (Monson, Mass./Northwood School) added her sixth shutout of the season, lowering her goals-against average this season to .94.

Neither team scored on their four power-play chances, with the Cardinals winning the shot battle 36-9.

Plattsburgh State moves to 12-3-1 (8-2-1 SUNYAC) with the win while Buffalo State falls to 5-12-1 (1-9-1 SUNYAC). The teams will wrap up their regular season series tomorrow, Jan. 25, at 3 p.m. in the Buffalo State Ice Arena.

Kasprzak opened the scoring at the 8:33 mark of the first period, intercepting a Buffalo State pass in the Cardinal's offensive zone. The sophomore then turned up the house, entering the slot where she unloaded on a shot that beat the Bengals goalie's glove side. Kasprzak has scored in three straight games with five goals on the year.

Plattsburgh State wasted little time adding to the lead, as Taya Balfour (Moorestown, N.J./Philadelphia Jr. Flyers) broke Kasprzak and Ruegge on a breakaway after the face-off of the last goal. Kasprzak worked the puck through the neutral zone, making a nifty move around one defender setting up a two-on-none. The sophomore passed off to Ruegge at the last moment, as she was wide open on the doorstep for the easy score.

The Cardinals waited until the 7:36 mark of the next period to add their third goal as Morris scored her team-leading sixth goal of the season. The first-year deposited a Kasprzak pass from the backboards through the five-hole as she was undefended in the slot. Mattie Norton (Glen Carbon, Ill./St. Louis Lady Blues) also added an assist on the play.

Over 10 minutes later, Wall picked up her third goal of the season on a scrum in front of the net. A Marina McCann (Bear, Del./St. Louis Lady Blues) shot was initially saved but the rebound was corralled by Kate Conlon (New Hudson, Mich./Little Caesars) who had her shot miss off the pipe. The loose puck bounced around before Wall finally controlled on the opposite side of the net, putting the puck into the back of the net to give Plattsburgh a 4-0 lead.

Morris added to her team-leading goal total off a strong effort from Emma McLean (Burlington, Mass./Pomfret School) at the 13:38 mark of the third period, as she battled for a puck along the boards with Buffalo State. The junior was able to free the puck to Morris, who skated into the Plattsburgh offensive zone and finished bar down for a highlight reel goal.

The Cardinals kept up their stout defensive effort they displayed all game through the final six-plus minutes, earning the 5-0 league win.

Jessica Auge made 31 saves in net, taking the loss for the Bengals.