NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The No. 7 Plattsburgh State women's ice hockey team defeated No. 12 Nazareth 2-0 on Sunday evening, advancing to the East-West Hockey Classic Championship game set for tomorrow, Monday, Jan. 6. Molly Riggi (Farmingdale, N.J./New Jersey Titans) tallied the game-winning goal on the power play, while Tessa Morris (Grand Island, N.Y./Rome Girl's Hockey) scored the Cards second goal.

The Plattsburgh State Cardinals are currently the No. 7 team in the USCHO.com Division III Top-15 Poll, while Nazareth is ranked at No. 12.

Riggi tallied her second goal of the season in the first period to give the Cards the lead, while Morris scored her third goal of the season in the second period to give Plattsburgh a much-needed cushion. Chloe Lewis (Monson, Mass./Northwood School) tallied her third shutout of the season, making 16 saves in 60 minutes of action.

Plattsburgh State finished the night 1-4 on the advantage, while also holding the Golden Flyers scoreless on their only two power play opportunities of the night. The Cardinals also maintained a shot advantage throughout the game, outshooting Nazareth 28-16.

The Cardinals move to 7-2-1 with the win and next take on Norwich in the East-West Hockey Classic Championship game on Monday, Jan. 6 at 4 p.m. Plattsburgh defeated Norwich in their season opener, 3-1, back on Nov. 2. Nazareth falls to 7-3 and next face No. 3 Amherst in the consolation game tomorrow at 1 p.m.

The first period saw Plattsburgh State control throughout, limiting the Golden Flyers to just two shots and holding them shotless on their lone power play of the period halfway through the stanza.

The Cardinals took the lead late in the period on their first power play opportunity, as Riggi rebounded a saved Adriana Urban (Monroe, N.J./Hoosac School) shot from the crease into the back of the net. Senior forward Bridget Orr (Excelsior, Minn./North American Hockey Academy) also picked up an assist on the play.

Nazareth responded with a stronger attack in the second period, but the Cardinal defense and Lewis stood tall, stopping all nine shots on goal in the period. Plattsburgh took advantage of a breakaway opportunity halfway through the second stanza, as Sydnee Francis (Canton, N.Y./Nepean Jr. Wildcats) sprung the chance. Francis skated ahead of three Golden Flyers, putting a shot on goal that a diving goaltender saved. All three Nazareth skaters went past the goal, however, leaving the rebound wide open for Morris in the crease as she buried a backhanded shot for the score.

The Cardinals made the two-goal lead stand through the final 30 minutes of action, as they were able to stay out of the penalty box, not allowing Nazareth to put themselves on the advantage. In the third period, they also limited the Golden Flyers to just five shots, making it nearly impossible for their opposition to make up the multi-goal deficit.

McKinley Hoff made 26 saves in 60 minutes, taking the loss allowing two goals.