PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The No. 2 Plattsburgh State women's ice hockey team stretched its winning streak to 10 with a 9-1 victory over SUNY Canton in Northeast Women's Hockey League (NEWHL) action Tuesday evening at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena.
Plattsburgh State is ranked at No. 2 in the DCU/USCHO.com Women's Division III Top-10 Poll.
Senior forward Sara Krauseneck (Saginaw, Mich./Northern Cyclones) finished with five points on two goals and three assists, while graduate student forward Kaitlin Drew-Mead (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) scored twice and was credited with one assist. Graduate student forward Annie Katonka (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pittsburgh Penguins Elite) notched four points on a goal and three assists, while senior defenseman Sierra Benjamin (Palm Coast, Fla./Northwood School) netted a goal and added two assists.
The Cardinals were 2-for-4 on the power play, while the Kangaroos were scoreless on three chances with the extra skater. Plattsburgh State held a 67-21 edge in shots on goal.
Plattsburgh State rises to 16-2-0 overall (11-0-0 NEWHL) with the win and next visits SUNY Cortland on Friday, Feb. 4, at 2 p.m. Canton falls to 12-4-1 overall (6-4-1 NEWHL) with the loss and next visits Oswego State on Friday, Feb. 4, at 3 p.m.
Katonka opened scoring a 4:24 of the first period. Krauseneck took a shot that was saved before Katonka crashed the net and flicked the rebound into the back of the net.
Benjamin doubled the Cardinal lead at 15:42 of the first. Katonka sent a diagonal pass to Benjamin in the right circle, and Benjamin launched a shot that went over the goalie's shoulder blocker side. Krauseneck also earned an assist on the play.
Krauseneck made it a three-goal game with just 38 seconds left in the first period. Katonka slid a loose puck in the corner to Benjamin on the right point, and Benjamin took a shot that Krauseneck redirected into the goal.
Drew-Mead entered the scoring column with a goal at the 11:35 mark of the second period. Junior defenseman Kendall Wasik (Novi, Mich./HoneyBaked) sent a stretch pass ahead to sophomore forward Mae Olshansky (Wilmette, Ill./North American Hockey Academy), and Olshansky sent a short pass to Drew-Mead in the slot. Drew-Mead then scored glove side to put the Cardinals up, 4-0.
Senior forward Nicole Unsworth (Milwaukee, Wis./East Coast Wizards) tallied a power-play goal at 15:12 of the second to give the Cardinals a 5-0 advantage. Drew-Mead fed Benjamin in the right circle, and Benjamin quickly sent a pass over to Unsworth on the weak side. Unsworth took advantage of the space and one-timed a shot into the back of the net.
Exactly one minute later, graduate student defenseman Erin McArdle (Macomb, Mich./Belle Tire) scored on the power play, taking advantage of a 5-on-3 opportunity. Krauseneck fed first-year defenseman Mattie Norton (Glen Carbon, Ill./St. Louis Lady Blues) on the right point, and Norton passed D-to-D to McArdle. McArdle settled the puck before taking advantage of a screened goalie, scoring from the left point.
First-year forward Riley Calhoun (New Hartford, N.Y./Bishop Kearney Selects) cleared the box 31 seconds later with another power-play goal. Norton passed down low to junior forward Tatem Cheney (Ottawa, Ontario/Ottawa Lady 67's), and Cheney centered the puck to Calhoun, who scored low glove side.
At 1:27 of the third period, Drew-Mead registered her second goal of the evening. Senior forward Holly Schmelzer (East Amherst, N.Y./Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles) played the puck to Unsworth in the defensive zone, and Unsworth broke Drew-Mead out ahead with a stretch pass. Drew-Mead scored from the left circle on the rush, launching the puck over the goaltender's blocker.
Plattsburgh State notched its final goal of the game at 4:29 of the third period. Junior forward Ivy Boric (Newport Beach, Calif./Anaheim Lady Ducks) had the puck along the back wall before it squirted free to Katonka. Katonka then found Krauseneck out in front, who scored low glove side for her second tally of the night.
Canton's first-year forward Brycelan Sunday broke up the shutout bid at 18:31 of the third. She forced a turnover in the Cardinals' zone and scored high glove side.
Junior goaltender Chloe Beaubien (Colorado Springs, Colo./Ontario Hockey Academy) turned aside 20 shots in the win for Plattsburgh State, while first-year goaltender Mak Ganje made 58 saves in the loss for Canton.