CANTON, N.Y. – Graduate student forward Annie Katonka (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pittsburgh Penguins Elite) scored a hat trick for the second time in as many games and junior goaltender Chloe Beaubien (Colorado Springs, Colo./Ontario Hockey Academy) posted an 13-save shutout, as the No. 2 Plattsburgh State women's ice hockey team defeated SUNY Canton, 6-0, in Northeast Women's Hockey League (NEWHL) action on Tuesday at the Roos House to stretch its unbeaten streak to 15 games.
Plattsburgh State is ranked at No. 2 in the DCU/USCHO.com Women's Division III Top-10 Poll.
In addition to Katonka, senior forward Nicole Unsworth (Milwaukee, Wis./East Coast Wizards), sophomore forward Mae Olshansky (Wilmette, Ill./North American Hockey Academy) and senior forward Sara Krauseneck (Saginaw, Mich./Northern Cyclones) also recorded three points on the afternoon. Unsworth finished with two goals and one assist, Olshansky netted one goal and added two assists and Krauseneck earned three assists. Krauseneck, who now has 29 assists on the season, is just two assists away from the single-season program record of 31 set by Bridget Balisy during the 2015-16 season.
The Cardinals were 1-for-5 on the power play, while the Kangaroos were scoreless in three chances with the extra skater. Plattsburgh State finished with a 55-13 edge in shots on goal.
Plattsburgh State rises to 20-2-1 overall (15-0-1 NEWHL) with the win and next hosts Buffalo State in its penultimate game of the regular season on Friday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m. Canton falls to 12-9-1 overall (6-9-1 NEWHL) with the loss and next hosts SUNY Cortland on Friday, Feb. 18, at 4 p.m.
Katonka fired the opening salvo at 5:01 of the first period, scoring low glove side from the low slot off a backhand pass by Krauseneck. Junior forward Ivy Boric (Newport Beach, Calif./Anaheim Lady Ducks) also earned an assist on the goal.
Just 15 seconds later, the Cardinals struck again. First-year defenseman Mattie Norton (Glen Carbon, Ill./St. Louis Lady Blues) forced a turnover in the defensive zone and quickly got the puck to Olshansky, who sprung ahead on 2-on-1 rush. She passed to Unsworth in offensive zone, and Unsworth went backhand to forehand before scoring low glove side from just outside the crease.
Olshansky entered the scoring column with 58 seconds left in the opening period. Norton passed to Unsworth behind the goal line from the right point, and Unsworth backhanded a pass back to Olshansky in the low slot. Olshansky then scored on a one-time shot for her 13th goal of the season.
Katonka buried her second goal 35 seconds into the second period. Boric skipped a pass over to Krauseneck on the weak side, and Krauseneck sent a pass right back across the low slot to Katonka. Katonka buried a one-time shot past the Kangaroo netminder to make it a 4-0 game.
Unsworth netted her second score at 7:43 of the third period. Olshansky took a shot on the rush that deflected off graduate student forward Kaitlin Drew-Mead's (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) skate right in front of the goaltender, and Unsworth banged in the rebound.
Finally, at 9:59 of the second period, Katonka completed the hat trick, her fourth of the season. Krauseneck sprung Katonka forward with a stretch pass from the defensive zone, and with just the goalie to beat, Katonka scored glove side.
Beaubien posted her first career shutout, making 13 saves in the win, while junior goaltender Sirena Alvarez turned aside 49 shots in the loss for Canton.
Alvarez Records Career-High 49 Saves in Setback v. #2 Cardinals
Canton, NY – Sirena Alvarez finished with a career-high 49 saves but visiting No. 2 nationally-ranked Plattsburgh State scored three goals each over the first two periods to secure a 6-0 Northeast Women's Hockey League (NEWHL) win on Tuesday.
THE BASICS
- Result: #2 Plattsburgh State 6, SUNY Canton 0
- Location: Roos House – Canton, NY
- Records: Plattsburgh State (20-2-1, 15-0-1 NEWHL) | SUNY Canton (12-9-1, 6-9-1)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Plattsburgh got on the board first at 5:01 of the opening period when Annie Katonka netted her team-leading 25th goal of the season. Ivy Boric dumped the puck down low from the right circle behind the Canton net to Sara Krauseneck. Krauseneck fed a quick pass out in front to Katonka who stuffed the puck in the back of the net.
- The Cardinals doubled their lead just 15 seconds later. Mattie Norton chipped the puck away near the far boards of the Plattsburgh defensive zone as the visitors headed the other way 2-on-1. Mae Olshansky chipped a backhanded pass into the zone as Nicole Unsworth skated alone deking a sprawled out Sirena Alvarez beating her glove side.
- Plattsburgh added a late power play goal with just less than a minute left in the opening period. Norton's initial shot from the right circle was turned aside by Alvarez. The puck went right to Nicole Unsworth below the right dot and she fed a nifty pass between the legs to Olshansky who put a diving shot into the left side of net. The visitors led 3-0 after the opening period.
- Katonka added her second goal of the game just 35 seconds into the middle period when she put home a tip at the right post off a pass from Krauseneck. Boric also picked up an assist on the play.
- The Cardinals added to their lead at 7:43 of the second when Unsworth put home a loose puck with traffic out in front. Kaitlin Drew-Mead and Olshansky were credited with assists on the play.
- Katonka completed the hat trick at the 9:59 mark scoring on a wrist shot off the outlet pass from Krauseneck. Plattsburgh led 6-0 after 40 minutes.
- Play was much more competitive in the third period with the Roos holding a slim 10-9 shots advantage, but the Roos were unable to solve Plattsburgh goaltender Chloe Beaubien.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Plattsburgh dominated shots 55-13 and held a 38-23 advantage in face offs.
- The Cardinals went 1-for-5 on the power play, while Canton was 0-for-3.
- Katonka led the way with three goals, while Unsworth had two goals and an assist and Olshansky added a goal and two assists. Krauseneck recorded a game-high three assists and Norton and Boric added two each.
- Alvarez finished with a career-high 49 saves, while Beaubien tallied a 13 save shutout.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The women's hockey team is back in action on Friday when they host SUNY Cortland, who is receiving votes in the latest USCHO Top 10 poll, at 4 p.m.