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

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