College Hockey Stats Box Score

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The No. 1/1 Plattsburgh State women's ice hockey team suffered its first loss since Nov. 20, 2016, as the Cardinals fell 4-3 to No. 2/2 Norwich University on Wednesday evening at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena in non-conference action. Plattsburgh State went unbeaten in its previous 26 contests.
 
It also ended the Cardinals' 13-game unbeaten streak against Norwich, as the Cadets posted their first win over Plattsburgh State since Feb. 8, 2012.
 
Plattsburgh State 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. Norwich 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.
 
The Cardinals drop to 3-1-0 overall with the loss and host the Toronto Junior Aeros in their final exhibition game of the year on Saturday, Nov. 11, at 3 p.m. Norwich rises to 4-0-1 overall with the win and hosts Plymouth State University in its home opener on Friday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m.
 
Norwich scored quickly in this rematch of last year's NCAA Division III Tournament semifinal game, as sophomore forward Sophie McGovern netted a goal just 27 seconds into the game. Junior forward Bryn Labbe took a shot that was blocked before collecting the rebound and feeding the puck to sophomore forward Amanda Conway. Conway chipped the puck to McGovern, who fired a shot into the net from the low slot to give the Cadets an early 1-0 lead.
 
Senior forward Kayla Meneghin (Clifton, N.J./The Gunnery) tallied the equalizer just more than two minutes later, relying on assists from junior forward Ashley Songin (Springville, N.Y./Nichols School) and senior forward Melissa Sheeran (Schaghticoke, N.Y./Millbrook School). Sheeran fired a shot from the left face-off circle that was turned aside by the Norwich netminder, and Songin gathered the rebound. Songin sent a slow, dribbling puck to the far post, where Meneghin was to poke it past the goal line.
 
Plattsburgh State took its only lead of the game 1:09 after that, as junior forward Courtney Moriarty (Estero, Fla./Northfield Mount Hermon) scored. Junior forward Mackenzie Millen (Anchorage, Alaska/North American Hockey Academy) fed the puck to sophomore forward Meghan Kraus (Bellingham, Wash./Northern Cyclones), who won a battle along the right boards in the Cardinals' offensive zone and passed the puck to Moriarty. Moriarty then passed it back to Kraus, who then fed Moriarty. Moriarty drove to goal and ripped a shot from the right face-off circle, beating the Cadet goalie through the five-hole.
 
Norwich tied the game with 5:06 gone in the first period, as senior forward Muranda Toews registered her first goal of the season off of passes from freshman defenseman Samantha Benoit and freshman forward KC Herne. Herne and Benoit each fired shots that were blocked before Toews hammered the puck home for the equalizer.
 
After a scoreless second period, McGovern scored on the power play 3:57 into the third. Conway fed Labbe, who brought the puck from behind the goal line and sent a pass across the slot to McGovern. McGovern sent a one-timer into the back of the net to hand the Cadets a 3-2 advantage.
 
Norwich's eventual game-winner came midway through the period, as a Cardinal skater kicked in a puck that was sent in behind the goal line from Conway. McGovern earned an assist on the play.
 
Meneghin drew the Cardinals within one with 3:49 left in regulation, as she scored on the power play. Sophomore defenseman Hannah Kiraly (Glendale, Ariz./Northern Cyclones) passed it to Sheeran from the blue line, who took the puck into the slot from the right side and fed Meneghin to the left post. Meneghin beat a sliding Cadet goaltender stick side to trim the gap to 4-3.
 
Plattsburgh State pulled its goalie to get the extra attacker for 48 seconds, but a Cardinal penalty with 47 seconds remaining ultimately forced Plattsburgh State to put its netminder back in.
 
The Cardinals outshot the Cadets, 38-33, thanks to a 19-6 edge in the third period. Both teams went 1-for-5 on the power play.
 
Junior goaltender Kassi Abbott (North Billerica, Mass./Boston Shamrocks Elite) sustained the loss for Plattsburgh State, making 29 saves, while senior goaltender Laurie King earned the win for Norwich, turning aside 35 shots.