Plattsburgh graduate student defenseman Erin McArdle positions herself to restrict Norwich senior defenseman Emma O’Neill to the outside as she skates through the neutral zone in the third period of the Championship game of the 11th Northfield Savings Bank East-West Classic at Norwich’s Kreitzberg Arena. For the sixth time in the 11-year history of the Northfield Savings Bank East-West Classic, the Cardinals of Plattsburgh State lifted the championship plaque at Norwich University’s Kreitzberg Arena, with a 2-1 win over the host Cadets.
The Cardinals came out strong in the first period, but the Cadets were able to answer that intensity, as Plattsburgh led shots in the opening period 12-7. The opening goal of the game, though, would come on an individual effort from Plattsburgh sophomore forward Mae Olshansky.
As Norwich looked to clear their defensive zone, Olshansky intercepted the breakout pass. Despite falling on the play, Olshansky was able to elevate the puck with a backhanded shot from her knees to beat Norwich senior goaltender Alexa Berg.
Norwich brought more fights to the second period, leading shots in the back-and-forth frame 12-10. The Cadets tied the game at 7:30 of the second period as junior forward Mikah Baptiste sent the puck low through heavy traffic to beat Plattsburgh junior goaltender Chloe Beaubien.
The Cardinals regained their lead before the second intermission as the rebound off a shot from senior defenseman Sierra Benjamin fell to Olshansky, who passed to graduate student forward Kaitlin Drew-Mead at the backdoor for the tap-in goal.
Drew-Mead’s tally proved to be the game-winner, as Plattsburgh controlled possession in the third period, leading shots 17-6.
Beaubien stopped 24 of the 25 shots she faced for the win in net for Plattsburgh, while Berg tied her career-high 37 saves on 39 shots in the loss.
As Plattsburgh celebrated its sixth championship in their nine years competing in this tournament, Plattsburgh forwards Annie Katonka and Olshanksy joined Elmira’s Morgan Mordini, Adrian’s Jocelin Hudanish, and Norwich's Morgan Tefft and Berg on the All-Tournament Team. Beaubien was named tournament MVP, record two wins, and stopped 53 of the 55 shots she faced on the weekend.
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Plattsburgh graduate student Kaitlin Drew-Mead celebrates the go-ahead goal against Norwich University in the championship game of the 11th Northfield Savings Bank East-West Classic at Norwich’s Kreitzberg Arena Gallery.

Elmira goaltender Leonie-Louise Kuehberger keeps her eyes on the rebound as freshman defenseman Katie Manning holds off pressure from Plattsburgh graduate student Kaitlin Drew-Mead in the Northfield Savings Bank East-West Classic at Norwich’s Kreitzberg Arena. Plattsburgh State graduate student Annie Katonka stole the show with a hat trick in her return from injury as the Cardinals earned their revenge win, 4-3 over Elmira College in the first round of the Northfield Savings Bank East/West Classic at Norwich University’s Kreitzberg Arena.
Plattsburgh started strong early in the first period, sending a flurry of shots toward Elmira’s freshman goaltender Leonie-Louise Kuehberger, but it was the Soaring Eagles who broke through first, as junior forward Holley Riva found the back of the net near the midpoint of the period.
The opening goal started a frantic sequence in which the teams combined for three goals in just 1:19 of game time. Plattsburgh defenseman Kendall Wasik leveled the score with a snipe from the point before Elmira captain Eliza Beaudin broke forward to regain the lead.
Having given up two goals on five shots, Plattsburgh goaltender Ashley Davis - who had struggled in games against Endicott and Elmira two weeks ago - was done for the evening, as coach Kevin Houle opted instead for junior goaltender Chloe Beaubien.
A powerplay late in the first period helped the Cardinals tie the game before the intermission, as Katonka took advantage of a scramble in front of the Elmira goal to put the puck home.
The Soaring Eagles once again took the lead at 3:10 of the third period with Beaudin’s second goal of the night, but an Elmira penalty for too many players on the ice gave Katonka the chance to once again tie the game on the power play.
Elmira had an opportunity to retake the lead after the midpoint of the period, as two Plattsburgh penalties gave them a full minute of the 5-on-3 powerplay, but the Cardinals’ penalty kill stood strong.
Another Plattsburgh penalty late in the third period gave the Soaring Eagles one more hope of avoiding overtime, but it backfired.
Shortly after a shorthanded breakaway by graduate student Kaitlin Drew-Mead was cut short by Elmira’s Madi Morton, Kantonka created some magic of her own. Katonka stole the puck from the stick of senior defenseman Jenny Heath at the Elmira blue line and skated in alone to beat Kuehberger.
The shorthanded tally completed the hat trick for Katonka, in her first game back after suffering a leg injury two weeks ago against Endicott.
Beaubien earned the win with 29 saves on the 30 shots she faced after replacing Davis, while Kuehberger’s 34 saves on 38 was not enough to avoid the loss.
Plattsburgh advanced to Sunday’s East/West Classic final against host Norwich University, while Elmira moved on to the consolation game against Adrian College. Gallery.

Plattsburgh junior goaltender Chloe Beaubien kicks out the leg for the pad save as Elmira freshman goaltender Erika Goleniak skates into the zone on the weak side in the Northfield Savings Bank East-West Classic at Norwich’s Kreitzberg Arena. Gallery.

Elmira's Holley Riva (20) with the quick wrister in tight that beats the goalie and ties the game up. It would be a battle of top 5 and former conference foes in the third-place game of the Cardinal/Panther Classic as the #1 Plattsburgh State Cardinals host the #5 Elmira Soaring Eagles. It would take to almost the end of the first period before we had our first goal when the Cardinals would light the lamp with 1:08 left on the Lilly Stumm goal. In an odd turn of events, the Soaring Eagles would answer back quickly just 1:08 into the second period on the Mary McCafferty goal to tie the game at one. The Cardinals would keep the hammer down and get the lead back with 4:48 left in the period on the Ivy Boric powerplay goal to make it a 2-1 Cardinals leads. Although their lead would be short-lived again as the Soaring Eagles tie the game at two with 1:05 left on the Holly Riva goal. The Soaring Eagles would get a quick hitter on the shorthand just 1:10 into the period on Mary McCafferty's shorthanded goal and second of the night to make it 3-2 Eagles. Although the Cardinals would keep up the fight and tie the game at three on the Nicole Unsworth goal at 7:54 of the third period. The game would remain tied and the teams would head to the overtime period and in the overtime, Eliza Beaudin would send the Cardinal faithful home unhappy as she would score with 1:49 left and give the Elmira Soaring Eagles the 4-3. In the winning effort, the Soaring Eagles go to 8-1 while the Plattsburgh State Cardinals fall to 6-2 on the season. Gallery

Plattsburgh State's Sierra Benjamin (5) with the poke check knocking the puck away on the Elmira player breaking to the net. Gallery

Endicott's Michaela O'Brien (1) with the pad save on the breakaway as part of a 56 save winning effort. It would be the opening of the Cardinal/Panther Classic as the #1 Plattsburgh State Cardinals would play host to the #9 Endicott Gulls, The game would start off good for the home Cardinals as they would get the opening goal of the game at the 10:59 mark of the first period from Emma Killeen for the 1-0 lead. Although the Gulls would have answered back about 90 seconds later as Quin Healy would tie the game up at 1. That is where the game would stay till the 9:28 mark of the second period when the Cardinals would regain the lead at 2-1 on the Sierra Benjamin goal at the 9:28 mark of the second period. Just 40 seconds later the Cardinals would strike again to take the two-goal lead on the Sara Krauseneck goal. Although that would not keep the Gulls from fighting back at they would answer back three minutes later on the powerplay on the Kaylee Liberty goal to make it 3-2. The Gulls would keep fighting and eventually get the equalizer halfway through the third period on Quin Healy's second goal of the night to make it 3-3. That is where the game would stay as they enter the overtime period until Samatha Fantasia would come down on the breakaway and score for the Gulls with 35 seconds left and get the 4-3 Gulls win and ending the Cardinals 44 game home winning streak. In the losing, effort Ashley Davis would make 14 saves as the Cardinals fall to 6-1 on the season. As the Gulls Michaela O'Brien would make 56 saves as they advance to the finals of the Cardinal/Panther Classic and get the winner of the Middlebury and Elmira game. Gallery.

Plattsburgh State's Lilly Strumm (24) comes in on the breakaway attempt looking for the game winner. Gallery.

Plattsburgh State's Lilla Nease (31) with the glove save in traffic for one of her 20 saves on the day on her way to her first career shutout. It would be the second game of a weekend doubleheader for the #1 Plattsburgh State Cardinals as they were hosting the Morrisville State Mustangs in NEWHL action. The Cardinals would waste little time getting on the board 49 seconds into the game on a backhander from Annie Katonka for the 1-0 lead. The Cardinals would expand their lead to 2-0 on a powerplay goal by Kaitlin Drew-Mead at the 7:58 mark of the period. That might be where the scoring stopped in the first period but the Cardinals would explode for four goals in the second period from Mattie Norton, Tatem Cheney, Nicole Unsworth, and Mae Olshansky and take a huge 6-0 lead into the third period. In the third period the Cardinals would not let off the gas as they would score three more times this time from Sara Krausneck, Annie Katonka (2nd of the night), and Mae Olshansky (second of the night) and they would secure the 9-0 win. In the winning effort, Lilla Nease would make 20 saves for their first career shutout as the Cardinals would go to 5-0 on the season. Next, up for the Cardinals, they will be hosting the Cardinal/Panther Classic over the Thanksgiving weekend along with Middlebury, Endicott, and Elmira. Gallery.

Plattsburgh's State's Sara Krauseneck (25) with the scramble goal in front of the net. Gallery.