No. 2/2 Plattsburgh State Women's Ice Hockey Downs No. 1/1 Elmira, 4-1, in Panther/Cardinal Classic Consolation Game

College Hockey Stats Box Score

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – The No. 2/2 Plattsburgh State women's ice hockey team exacted a measure of revenge against No. 1/1 Elmira College in the consolation game of the Panther/Cardinal Classic on Sunday afternoon at Middlebury College's Chip Kenyon '85 Arena, defeating the Soaring Eagles, 4-1, in a rematch of last year's NCAA Division III Women's Ice Hockey Tournament semifinals.
 
Plattsburgh State is ranked at No. 2 in both the USCHO.com Women's Division III Top-10 Poll and the D3hockey.com Women's Top-10 Poll, while Elmira is ranked at No. 1 in both the USCHO.com Women's Division III Top-10 Poll and the D3hockey.com Women's Top-10 Poll.
 
Sophomore defenseman Erin McArdle (Macomb, Mich./Belle Tire) scored two goals in the contest, and as a result of her performance, she was named to the All-Tournament Team. Senior forward Courtney Moriarty (Estero, Fla./Northfield Mount Hermon) scored her 20th career game-winning goal to move into a tie for second in the program's record book with former Cardinal great and current assistant coach Danielle Blanchard (2005-09). Moriarty also added an assist in the game.
 
The Cardinals excelled on the power play, going 2-for-7 with the extra skater. They also converted on one of two 5-on-3 power plays. The Soaring Eagles, meanwhile, were scoreless on four chances with the extra attacker. Plattsburgh State dominated in shots, holding a 36-17 margin in shots on goal.
 
Plattsburgh State rises to 6-1-0 overall with the win and returns to Northeast Women's Hockey League (NEWHL) action on Friday, Nov. 30, when it visits Oswego State for a 3 p.m. contest. Elmira slips to 5-1-1 overall with the loss and next visits Amherst College on Friday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m.
 
The Cardinals nearly got on the board midway through the first period on a 5-on-3 power play, but an apparent goal by Moriarty was waved off. They did not have to wait long after that to get on the board, however, as McArdle scored her first goal of the season 12 seconds later with the two-person advantage. Junior defenseman Hannah Kiraly (Glendale, Ariz./Northern Cyclones) took a shot that was saved, and battling traffic in front of the net, McArdle poked in the rebound at 8:39 of the first period.
 
Moriarty scored the eventual game-winner with 45 seconds left in the first period. Senior defenseman Maci Hoskins (Oklahoma City, Okla./Northwood School) fed Moriarty in the left corner of the Cardinals' zone, and transitioning down the ice, Moriarty centered a pass to sophomore forward Annie Katonka (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pittsburgh Pens Elite). Katonka split a pair of Elmira defenders and took a shot that was saved before a trailing Moriarty went top shelf on the rebound.
 
Plattsburgh State added another score 8:33 into the second period. Freshman defenseman Sierra Benjamin (Palm Coast, Fla./Northwood School) skated the length of the ice and settled into the right corner of the Elmira zone. She sent a short backhand pass to sophomore forward Abby Brush (Mount Prospect, Ill./Chicago Young Americans) behind the goal line, and Brush came out in front of the net along the right post and backhanded a shot past the Soaring Eagle goalie.
 
Though the Cardinals were unable to capitalize on 1:10 of another 5-on-3 power play midway through the second period, they added more insurance with a power-play goal 1:38 into the third. Moriarty fed McArdle in the high slot with a pass from the right circle, and McArdle took advantage of a screened Elmira goaltender and ripped a slap shot into the back of the net. Kiraly also earned an assist on the play.
 
The Soaring Eagles erased the shutout bid with 1:33 left in regulation, as freshman defenseman Jenny Heath scored blocker side on a wrist shot from inside the left face-off circle. Senior defenseman Meg Lahey and sophomore forward Jess Adams earned assists.
 
Senior goaltender Kassi Abbott (Medford, Mass./Boston Shamrocks Elite) posted 16 saves in the win for Plattsburgh State, while freshman goaltender Stephanie Martin made 32 stops in the loss for Elmira.

No. 5/6 Adrian College captured the Panther/Cardinal Classic title, scoring four unanswered goals, including an empty-netter late in regulation, to defeat No. 4/4 Middlebury College, 4-1, in the championship game.