PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Nicole Unsworth scored :59 into the first overtime period lifting Plattsburgh to its fourth consecutive Northeast Women's Hockey League Championship as the Cardinals slipped by Cortland 4-3 on Saturday, March 5, in Plattsburgh, N.Y.

The win gives Plattsburgh a berth in the NCAA Division III Women's Ice Hockey Championship as the automatic qualifier from the NEWHL. It also improved the Cardinals record to 24-2-1 as they continue to make a case for the number one overall seed.

Cortland stands at 18-6-1 on the season and made the strongest bid to unseat Plattsburgh as the reining league champion in the short history of the league.

The Cardinals have claimed the first four NEWHL championships and had given up just one goal in the first three finals that began in 2018. Plattsburgh beat Oswego 6-1 in 2018 and 6-1 in 2020, while the Cardinals blanked Cortland 5-0 in 2019.

But Cortland jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Dany Donegan punched in an early goal for the Red Dragons on assists from Molly McCabe and Emily Kromer 3:11 into the first period.

Cortland held the advantage until 4:11 of the second when Sara Krauseneck knotted the score at 1-1 on assists by Annie Katonka and Emma Killeen; however, the Red Dragons jumped back on top at 10:41 when Destiny Bautista scored on assists from Gillian Zwolak and Mia Hlasnick.

Katonka, who was named the NEWHL Tournament Most Valuable Player and to the All-Tournament Team, tied the game at 2-2 for the Cardinals with assists from Ivy Boric and Mattie Norton.

Plattsburgh then took its first lead of the game with just 1:23 left in the second period when Tatem Cheyney found the back to the net. Taylor Whitney and Riley Calhoun were credited with assists.

Down a goal in the third period, the Red Dragons were the recipients of the only power play of the game midway through the frame that resulted in Grace Schnorr tying the contest for the third time at 3-3. Both Molly McCabe and Amanda Gaffney were given assists, while the slashing penalty was the only one called during the entire contest.

Schnorr's goal was the only score of the third period and forced overtime for the first time in NEWHL finals history. For Cortland, it marked the second straight overtime playoff game after the Red Dragons defeated Oswego 1-0 on Tuesday, March 1, in the semifinals.

Plattsburgh goalkeeper Chloe Beaubien stopped 23 of 26 shots on net and improved her record to 12-0-0 on the season, while Cortland rookie goalie Molly Goergen repelled 32 of 36 attempts and is now 11-4-1.

Unsworth's quick overtime goal on assists from Mae Olshansky and Kaitlin Drew-Mead ended the closest game in NEWHL history that resulted in each team landing three players on the All-Tournament Team.

In addition to Katonka, Unsworth and Norton represented Plattsburgh, while Donegan, McCabe and Goergen were selected from Cortland.

NEWHL All-Tournament Team

• F - Annie Katonka, Plattsburgh State (MVP)
• F - Dany Donegan, Cortland
• F - Nicole Unsworth, Plattsburgh State
• D - Mattie Norton, Plattsburgh State
• D - Molly McCabe, Cortland
• G - Molly Goergen, Cortland