#2 Oswego State Lakers @ #1 Plattsburgh State Cardinals - NEWHL Women's Hockey Championship - March 7th 2020

Photo By: 
Nathanael LePage

The Plattsburgh State women’s ice hockey team celebrates the 2020 NEWHL championship. The Plattsburgh State Women's hockey team won its third Northeast Women's Hockey League title, and eighth consecutive conference championship overall, with a 6-1 victory over SUNY Oswego Saturday at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena. The victory earned the Cardinals an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III championship tournament, which was subsequently canceled as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. The NEWHL Championship game began well for the visiting Lakers, who found themselves on the powerplay on six-second into the contest when senior defenseman Hannah Kirly was called for interference. While Oswego was unable to capitalize on that opportunity, the visitors took the lead at the 7:52 mark with a goal from Pliomena Teggart, assisted by Kate Rendazzo and NEWHL Rookie of the Year Megan Teachout. The Cardinals tied the contest at 10:23 when a loose puck deflected out to the top of the crease and Kaitlin Drew-Mead picked it up and put it under the pad of goaltender Rachel Farmer. Plattsburgh took the lead for good five minutes later, as Drew-Mead carried the puck into the zone and stretched around the defense to get a soft shot on Farmer, giving Sara Krauseneck the rebound opportunity for her 19th goal of the season. The home team went into the first intermission up 2-1, with a healthy 22-8 advantage in shots on goal. The defending national champions got the insurance goal at 7:06 of the second period on the powerplay, when Nicole Unsworth's shot from the left faceoff circle found the back of the net, prompting a leaping celebration from defenseman Emma Killeen. Later in the period, Kiraly found herself down low in the crease to poke at a rebound in front of Farmer and extend the Cardinals' lead to 4-1. Plattsburgh's Taylor Whitney and Annie Katonka both scored in the third period for the final tally of 6-1. Plattsburgh goaltender Ashley Davis made 20 saves in the win, while Farmer stopped 49 of the 55 shots she faced between the pipes for Oswego. With the win and subsequent cancellation of the NCAA tournament, the Cardinals finished their season with a final record of 26-1 and an 18-game winning streak. Seniors Kiraly, Sarah Wolf, and Jen Manning denied an opportunity to play for their third national title, finished with a career record of 107-8-3. Gallery

shot on net
Photo By: 
Nathanael LePage

Plattsburgh’s Abby Brush lines up a shot on Oswego goaltender Rachel Farmer in the NEWHL championship game at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena. Gallery

#4 Cortland State Red Dragons @ #1 Plattsburgh State Cardinals - NEWHL Women's Hockey Semi-Finals - February 29th 2020

shake off defender
Photo By: 
Nathanel Lepage

Plattsburgh State captain Madison Walker cuts back to try to shake off Cortland’s Kirsten MacDowell in the offensive zone during the NEWHL Semifinal Saturday at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena. The No. 1 Plattsburgh State women’s ice hockey team notched another win Saturday, taking down SUNY Cortland 3-0 in the NEWHL semifinals at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena. The afternoon started slowly for the Cardinals’ offense, as the defending national champions were held off the scoreboard through 20 minutes of play for the first time since Jan. 11, ending a streak of 10 games. The defense held firm, though, as goaltender Ashley Davis turned away all six shots she faced. Plattsburgh State broke the deadlock at the 7:58 mark of the second period, as Abby Brush sent home a third rebound chance in a chaotic sequence in the Cortland crease to score her 12th goal of the season. While that was the only scoring of the middle frame, the Cardinals looked to capitalize on that momentum heading into the third period to ensure victory. That insurance came on the powerplay when Annie Katonka was in front to capitalize on the rebound from Erin McArdle’s shot from the left faceoff circle. With the Cardinals in front 2-0, the victory was all but certain after defenseman Sierra Benjamin sent a relatively soft shot from a low angle. Benjamin and her teammates crashed the net to pick up a rebound, but Benjamin’s shot had deflected off the pads of goaltender Chelsea Allain and crossed the line. The 3-0 victory improved Plattsburgh State’s all-time record against Cortland to 47-0-0, a streak dating back to December 2001, and brought this season’s record to 25-1-0. After winning the semifinal, the Cardinals will host the Lakers of SUNY Oswego in the NEWHL Championship game Saturday at 3 p.m. Gallery

drive to the net
Photo By: 
Nathanel Lepage

Plattsburgh State senior defenseman Hannah Kiraly drives to the Cortland net after collecting the puck while coming out of the penalty box in the NEWHL Semifinal Saturday at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena. Gallery

#4 Elmira Soaring Eagles @ #1 Plattsburgh State Cardinals - NCAA Division II Women's Hockey - February 14th 2020

around defender
Photo By: 
Nathanel Lepage

Plattsburgh State's Sara Wolfe (10) goes around the defender and breaks to the goal as part of two goal night. It would be a battle of national powers as the #1 Plattsburgh State Cardinals would host the #4 Elmira Soaring Eagles at the Ronald B Stafford Ice Arena as part of the senior night for the Cardinals. The game would start off good for the home Cardinals as they would take the 1-0 lead 5:48 into the first period when Sara Wolfe would light the lamp. The game would stay there the ten-minute mark of the period when the Cardinals would strike again once again from Sara Wolfe for her second of the night to make it 2-0 Cardinals. The Soaring Eagles would do there best to keep the game close as they would go through the whole second period without a goal. In the third period about halfway through the back would break and the Cardinals would score from Taylor Whitney for the 3-0 lead and hold one for the win. In the winning effort, the Cardinals would go to 22-1 on the season as Ashley Davis would make 22 stops on the night. Gallery

diving stop
Photo By: 
Kyle Coryea

Plattsburgh State's Sara Krauseneck (25) with the diving effort to keep the puck in the offensive zone on the powerplay. Gallery

Cortland State Red Dragons @ #1 Plattsburgh State Cardinals - NEWHL Women's Hockey - February 8th 2020

cuts in for the goal
Photo By: 
Kyle Coryea

Plattsburgh State's Madison Walker (17) cuts in front of the net and flips it over the goalies shoulder for the goal and make it 2-0 Cardinals. It would be the second game of a pair of Northeast Women's Hockey League action weekend as the #1 Plattsburgh State Cardinals would host the Cortland State Red Dragons at the Ronald B Stafford Arena in front of over 650 fans. The Cardinals would get the opening goal of the game at the eleven-minute mark of the first on the powerplay from Annie Katonka for the 1-0 lead. The game would stay there till the nine-minute mark of the second when the Cardinals would extend there lead to 2-0 on the Madison Walker goal. Then just over four minutes later the Cardinals would strike again on the Katlin Drew-Mead goal for a 3-0 lead. The game would stay there till the seven-minute mark of the third when the Cardinal would take a 4-0 lead on the Sara Krauseneck goal. Then with just under five minutes left in the game, the Cardinals would strike for the last time on the Nicole Unsworth goal for the 5-0 lead. In the winning effort, the Cardinals would go to 21-1 on the season as Ashley Davis would make 14 saves on the day for the shutout. Next up for the Cardinals would be a game on February 14th in non-conference action against Elmira on a senior night at the Ronald B Stafford Arena. Gallery

goal
Photo By: 
Eleni M. Tyrell

Plattsburgh State's Sara Krauseneck (25) slides it around the Cortland State goalie and make its a 4-0 Cardinals lead. Gallery

Cortland State Red Dragons @ #1 Plattsburgh State Cardinals - NEWHL Women's Hockey - February 7th 2020

slapper
Photo By: 
Eleni M. Tyrell

Plattsburgh State's Sara Krauseneck (25) with the slapper on the slot for the powerplay goal for the 2-0 lead. The #1 Plattsburgh State Cardinals would return the Ronald B Stafford Ice Arena for the first time since January 21st and play the Cortland State Red Dragons in Northeast Women's Hockey League action in front of 275 fans. It would start off good for the home team as Anne Katonka would score at the thirteen-minute mark of the first period on the powerplay for the 1-0 lead. The Cardinals would be able to extend there lead to 2-0 just 1:14 into the second period on a powerplay goal by Sara Krauseneck. Then just about three minutes later the Cardinals would extend there lead to 3-0 on the Abby Brush goal. Then in the fourteenth minute of the second period, the Red Dragons would get on the broad and avoid the shutout at 3-1 on the Grace Schnorr goal. The game would stay there till the last second of the game when Red Dragons Grace Schnorr would score again to make it 3-2. In the Cardinals 3-2 win, Ashley Davis would make 20 saves as they go to 20-1 on the season. Gallery

along the boards
Photo By: 
Eleni M. Tyrell

Plattsburgh State's Taylor Whitney (34) and Cortland State's Kirsten MacDowell (9) battle for the puck along the boards. Gallery

Canton Kanagroos @ #1 Plattsburgh State Cardinals - NEWHL Women's Hockey - January 17th 2020

split defenders
Photo By: 
Eleni M. Tyrell

Plattsburgh State's Kaitlin Drew-Mead (27) splits a pair of Kangaroos and gets the shot off on net for the scoring chance. It would be a rare Friday afternoon matchup as the #1 Plattsburgh State Cardinals would host the Canton Kangaroos in NEWHL action at the Ronald B Stafford Arena in front of 300 fans. The upstart Kangaroos would show that they came to play as they would get the opening goal of the game at 2:57 of the first period from Breanna Bedborough. Although the Cardinals turn around and come back on fire as they would get four goals to end out the period from Erin McArdle, Sara Krauseneck (twice) and Hanna Rose for the 4-1 lead. In the second period, the Cardinals would keep their foot on the accelerator as they would get four more goals from Sarah Wolfe, Abby Brush (twice), and Sara Krauseneck would get her hat trick goal for a 8-1 Cardinals lead. In the third period, the Cardinals would lighten up as they would have just a lone goal from Holly Schmelzer to secure the 9-1 victory. In the winning effort, Chloe Beaubien would make 16 saves as the Cardinals go to 16-1 on the season. Next, up for the Cardinals, they will finish a home and home with the Canton Kangaroos on Saturday. Gallery

faceoff battle
Photo By: 
Eleni M. Tyrell

Plattsburgh State's Taylor Whitney (34) and Canton's Lilly Cullen (18) battle for position on the in zone face off. Gallery

Buffalo State Bengals @ #1 Plattsburgh State Cardinals - NEWHL Women's Hockey - January 11th 2020

slides by for the goal
Photo By: 
Josh Painter

Plattsburgh State's Annie Katonka (47) slides the puck around the goalie in the paint for the score. The #1 Plattsburgh State Cardinals would host the Buffalo State Bengals in NEWHL Women's Hockey action. The two teams would take sometime to feel out each other and with that being said there would be no scoring in the first period. Although that would change in the second period and right off the bat as Sara Krauseneck would score just 22 seconds into the game. Then just over the a minute later the Cardinals would strike again and make it 2-0 on the Nicole Unsworth goal. Then at the 7:02 mark Annie Katonka would strike and make it 3-0 Cardinals. Then in the closing seconds of the second period Taylor Whitney would score and the Cardinals would take a 4-0 lead. In the third period the Bengals didn't have much of a answer as the Cardinals would score twice more from Nicole Unsworth (second of the night) and Tatem Cheney as the Cardinals secure the 6-0 win. In the winning effort Ashley Davis would make 11 saves for the shutout as the Cardinals go to 14-1 on the season.Gallery

off the post
Photo By: 
Josh Painter

Plattsburgh State's Kaitlyn Drew-Mead (27) shots and clangs one right of the post to stop her bid for a goal. Gallery

Morrisville State Mustangs @ #1 Plattsburgh State Cardinals - NEWHL Women's Hockey - January 8th 2020

glove save
Photo By: 
Kyle Coryea

Plattsburgh State's Chole Beaubein (29) with the glove save on the top shelf shot as part of a 19 save night. The Plattsburgh State Cardinals would return home for there first game of the home game of the 2020 portion of there season with NEWHL matchup against the Morrisville State Mustangs. The Cardinals would return home in top form as they would get three goals in the opening period two from Katiln Drew Mead and one from Annie Katonka and have a 3-0 lead at the end of the period. In the second period the Cardinals would get one more from Sara Krauseneck at the 3:20 mark to take the 4-0 lead. Although the Mustangs would answer back two minutes later on a goal from Mackenzie Lombardi to break up the shutout bid. That is where the game would stay till 12:49 mark of the third period when Annie Katonka would strike again this time on the powerplay for her second goal of the night and secure the 5-1 victory. In the winning effort, Anne Katonka and Katlin Drew-Mead would each have a pair of goals while Chole Beaubein would make 19 stops as the Cardinals go to 13-1 on the season. Gallery

Kyle Coryea
Photo By: 
Nathanel Lepage

Plattsburgh State's Ivy Boric (19) with the check along the boards at the blue line to break up the play. Gallery

#1 Plattsburgh State Cardinals @ #5 Adrian Bulldogs - Norwich East West Hockey Classic - NCAA Division III Women's Hockey - January 6th 2020

on the curl
Photo By: 
Nathanel Lepage

East/West Hockey Classic MVP Sierra Benjamin looks to take a shot in the third period of the tournament’s championship game. Benjamin recorded a goal and two assists to lead the Cardinals to a 4-1 victory over Adrian College.The No. 1 Plattsburgh State women’s hockey team claimed its sixth title in eight years at Norwich University’s 10th annual East/West Hockey Classic with a 4-1 win over the No. 5 Adrian College Bulldogs. In a tight affair that saw Adrian lead shots on goal 33-30, the Cardinals claimed victory with the first four goals of the contest.

Plattsburgh scored the only goal of the first period, as Taylor Whitney picked up the rebound from an Ivy Boric shot and slid the puck behind Adrian's goaltender Denisa Janodvá, getting knocked to the ice as her shot barely crossed the goal line.

The Cardinals extended their lead with two goals in the span of 40 seconds in the second period, as Abby Brush knocked home the rebound of an Erin McArdle shot and Madison walker scored on a 2-on-1 rush with Kaitlin Drew-Mead. Sierra Benjamin, who claimed the tournament’s MVP award, recorded assists on both goals.

Plattsburgh State began the third period with a power-play after Adrian’s Kelly O’Sullivan was called for body checking in the final moments of the second, and Benjamin capitalized on the opportunity with a hard shot from the left faceoff circle. After her first goal of the season, Benjamin showed her emotions by dabbing before skating to the bench.

Adrian’s Une Bjelland picked up on a loose puck in front of the Plattsburgh net to get the Bulldogs on the board, but the Cardinals held on to the 4-1 lead and skated to the title.

Ashley Davis, starting in net for the Cardinals for the second straight game, made a career-high 32 saves, while Jandová recorded 26 saves of her own. Gallery

pass ahead of outstretched stick
Photo By: 
Nathanel Lepage

Plattsburgh forward Taylor Whitney makes a breakout pass in the second period of the Eat/West Hockey Classic final. Whitney scored the Cardinals’ first goal en route to a 4-1 victory over Adrian College. Gallery

#1 Plattsburgh State Cardinals @ #3 Norwich Cadets - Norwich East West Hockey Classic - NCAA Division III Women's Hockey - January 5th 2020

save on breakaway
Photo By: 
Nathanel Lepage

Plattsburgh State goaltender Ashley Davis (1) makes a save on a penalty shot attempt by Norwich’s Ann-Frederique Guay in the Cardinals’ 6-3 win at Norwich University. The No. 1 Plattsburgh State women’s hockey team kicked off its second semester of action with a 6-3 win over No. 3 Norwich Sunday in the first round of the 10th annual East/West Hockey Classic at Kreitzberg Arena.

The host team got on the board early, with a goal by Amanda Conway extending her program-record career tally. While a Taylor Whitney goal late in the first period tied the game 1-1 for the Cardinals, the Cadets regained their lead only 19 seconds later off the stick of senior Sophie MCGovern, and that 2-1 margin stood into the first intermission.

The defending national champions wrested back control of the contest in the second frame, scoring three goals within 61 seconds. The Cardinals’ Madison Walker tied the goal at the 9:18 mark of the second period, and Abby Brush scored the go-ahead tally at 9:57.

The visitors capped off the flurry of goals at 10:57 with a backhanded shot from Nicole Unsworth, taking advantage of a Norwich turnover in the defensive zone.

The Cardinals earned extra insurance with powerplay goals from Sara Krauseneck and Ivy Boric in the third period before Norwich’s Brynn Wopperer scored the third goal for the Cadets.

Ashley David made 29 saves in net for the Cardinals, including a stop on an Ann-Frederique Guay penalty shot. With the win, Plattsburgh State advanced to take on the Bulldogs of Adrian College Gallery

from the blue line
Photo By: 
Nathanel Lepage

Plattsburgh State's forward Kaitlin Drew-Mead (20) skates into the offensive zone on a breakaway to score a goal on Norwich goaltender Emily Lambert in the Cardinals’ 6-3 win at Norwich University. Gallery

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