PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State women's ice hockey team captured its second consecutive SUNYAC Championship on Saturday afternoon with a 4–1 victory over Cortland at Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena, improving its season record to 20–6–1 and claiming the program's 14th conference championship.
Plattsburgh State entered the contest with a commanding series advantage over Cortland, holding a 59–5–1 all-time record and having swept the teams' season series with a thrilling 4–3 road win and a 5–1 home victory earlier this season.
The Cardinals broke through in the second period when sophomore forward Kate Conlon (New Hudson, Mich.) scored at 8:36, finishing a play set up by juniors Sydnee Francis (Canton, N.Y.) and defender Adriana Urban (Monroe, N.J.)to give Plattsburgh a 1–0 lead. Francis then extended the advantage just over five minutes later with her own goal, assisted by sophomore Seoyoung Yoo (Yongin, Republic of Korea) and sophomore Brooke Terry (Massena, N.Y.), pushing the score to 2–0.
Cortland answered back shortly after with a goal from Katie Diem, cutting the deficit to 2–1, but Plattsburgh's offense continued to roll. Sophomore forward Kayson Ruegge (Edmond, Okla.) netted a third-period goal at 13:07 to restore the two-goal cushion, and first-year defender Lauren Farris (Northville, Mich.) scored her first career goal, an empty-net tally late in the third to seal the 4–1 victory.
The Cardinals outshot Cortland 32–18, demonstrating consistent pressure and controlling play across all three periods. In goal, sophomore Maddy Stetson (Wasilla, Alaska) earned the win between the pipes, stopping 17 of 18 shots in regulation to secure the SUNYAC Championship for Plattsburgh.
The SUNYAC All-Tournament Team, included four Cardinals: junior Sydnee Francis, who was named MVP, sophomore Kate Conlon, junior Adriana Urban (Monroe, N.J.), and sophomore Maddy Stetson (Wasilla, Alaska).
With the victory, Plattsburgh State remains SUNYAC champions for the second straight season and improves to 20–6–1 on the year. The Cardinals will now await the NCAA selection show tomorrow night at 8:30 p.m., where their first-round matchup for the NCAA Tournament will be revealed.
