PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The No. 8 Plattsburgh State women's ice hockey team shut out SUNY Canton on Friday afternoon, picking up their fourth straight State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) win. Junior forward Molly Riggi (Farmingdale, N.J./New Jersey Titans) led the way, as the junior scored two goals for her first career multi-goal game.

The Plattsburgh State Cardinals are currently the No. 8 team in the latest USCHO.com Top-15 Division III Poll.

Riggi netted the final two goals of the game for Plattsburgh, while Kayson Ruegge (Edmond, Okla./Philadelphia Jr. Flyers) picked up the game's opening goal and the game-winner. Chloe Lewis (Monson, Mass./Northwood School) picked up her conference-leading eighth shutout of the year, making 17 saves.

In a game with just three penalties, the Cardinals went 0-2 on the advantage while Canton was 0-1 on the powerplay. Plattsburgh State dominated the shot battle, outshooting SUNY Canton 50-17.
Plattsburgh rises to 17-5-1 (13-3-1 SUNYAC) while SUNY Canton falls to 6-14-2 (4-10-1 SUNYAC). The two teams will meet for their regular-season finale, tomorrow, Feb. 15 at 3 p.m. Before the game, the Cardinals will honor their four graduating seniors: Mattie Norton (Glen Carbon, Ill./St. Louis Lady Blues), Mae Olshansky (Las Vegas, Nev./North American Hockey Academy), Bridget Orr (Excelsior, Minn./North American Hockey Academy), and Ciara Wall (Somerville, Mass./New Hampshire).

The first period started off slowly, with neither team gaining much traction on offense, and with neither team committing any penalties. After 20 minutes, shots were 12-8 in favor of the Cardinals.

In the second period, the Plattsburgh offense came alive, peppering the 'Roos' goalie with 19 shots. The consistent attack finally paid off at the end of the second period. With less than two minutes to go, Tessa Morris (Grand Island, N.Y./Rome Girl's Hockey) intercepted a Canton pass in her offensive zone, skating ahead where she found Reugge wide open in the slot. The first-year to first-year pass was completed, as Ruegge then got the short-range shot around the Kangaroo netminder for her fifth goal of the season.

Just over a minute later, a Norton win behind the Plattsburgh goalie along the boards and a subsequent pass from Olshansky to Riggi, sprung a breakaway chance for the junior forward. With a defender hanging onto her side, Riggi skated all the way to near the front of the crease, before flinging a shot through the top shelf as she was falling for her first goal of the night with just 21 seconds remaining in the second period.

The third stanza saw the Cardinal's offensive attack keep up its pace, putting up 19 shots once more, but Canton goalie Molly Lenihan was up to the task, making 18 saves. The lone Plattsburgh goal came on an empty net at the 18:21 mark, as Su-An Cho's (Madison, Ala./Florida Alliance) deep shot attempt was deflected in by Riggi, for her second goal of the night. Cho picked up the primary assist on the play, while Seoyoung Yoo (Yongin, Republic of Korea/Ontario Hockey Academy). The goal sealed the win for the Cards as they cruised to the 3-0 shutout win.

Lenihan finished the night with 47 saves, taking the loss in just under 60 minutes of action.