OSWEGO, N.Y. – The eighth-ranked and second-seeded Plattsburgh State women's ice hockey team captured its 13th conference championship and first State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) title with a 2-0 victory over fifth-ranked and top-seeded Oswego State in the SUNYAC Tournament championship game on Saturday afternoon at the Deborah F. Stanley Ice Arena.
 
Oswego is ranked at No. 5 in the USCHO Division III Women's Top-15 Poll, while Plattsburgh State is ranked at No. 8.
 
It marks the Cardinals' 11th conference championship in the past 12 seasons. By virtue of winning the SUNYAC title, Plattsburgh State earns the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament. The full field will be revealed in the NCAA's selection show on Sunday, March 9, at 8:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.
 
Plattsburgh State moves to 20-6-1 overall with the win and will see its season continue in the NCAA Tournament, making its 20th appearance. Oswego falls to 22-3-2 overall with the loss and will be in contention for an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament.
 
Sophomore goaltender Chloe Lewis (Monson, Mass./Northwood School) was named the SUNYAC Tournament MVP after posting shutouts in each of the Cardinals' two SUNYAC Tournament games, while first-year forward Tessa Morris (Grand Island, N.Y./Rome Girl's Hockey), junior forward Molly Riggi (Farmingdale, N.J./New Jersey Titans) and senior defender Mattie Norton (Glen Carbon, Ill./St. Louis Lady Blues) joined her on the SUNYAC All-Tournament Team.
 
The Cardinals controlled play in the opening stanza, holding a 14-2 edge in shots on goal. Play evened out in the second period, with Oswego beginning to generate offensive chances. Plattsburgh State tested Oswego's senior goaltender Lexi Levy with several high-percentage scoring chances in the second, with sophomore forward Sydnee Francis (Canton, N.Y./Nepean Jr. Wildcats) and Riggi each pushing ahead with breakaway opportunities, only to have Levy stymie each chance.
 
Plattsburgh State finally broke the scoreless deadlock with 1:01 left in the second period. The Cardinals applied pressure on the forecheck, and Riggi blocked a clearing pass inside of the right circle. She then dove toward the net in the slot and flipped the puck past Levy blocker side.
 
The Cardinal penalty kill stood tall on back-to-back penalties midway through the third period, with Lewis making five stops during that span. Morris rode the crest of that momentum with a goal at the 12:49 mark of the third. Sophomore forward Emily Kasprzak (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Pittsburgh Penguins Elite) fed Morris in the slot with a pass from along the back wall before Morris took a shot that was blocked by an Oswego defender. Morris then weaved a second attempt through traffic that beat Levy stick side. Francis also earned an assist on the play.
 
The Lakers were unable to muster a shot on goal in the final minute of play with the extra attacker, and the Cardinals held on for the victory.
 
Plattsburgh State finished with an 28-17 edge in shots on goal, while each team was scoreless on the power play. The Cardinals were 0-for-1 with the extra skater, while the Lakers were 0-for-2.

Lewis posted a 17-save shutout in the win for Plattsburgh State, while Levy turned aside 26 shots in the loss for Oswego.