PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The top-seeded Plattsburgh State women's ice hockey team begins its quest to win its second Northeast Women's Hockey League (NEWHL) title Saturday afternoon at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena, as the Cardinals host fourth-seeded Oswego State in the NEWHL Tournament semifinals.
 
TICKET PRICING: Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 5-12 and free for children ages 4 and under and for current students from NEWHL schools with valid college-issued identification… There are no refunds or exchanges for NEWHL postseason tickets... All seating is general admission.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES: In a series that dates back to 2006-07, the Cardinals are 35-1-1 all-time against the Lakers… Plattsburgh State swept Oswego in its four regular-season games against the Bears this season… On Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, the Cardinals won by scores of 4-0 and 6-1, respectively, and on Jan. 25 and Jan. 26, they prevailed by scores of 6-1 and 4-0, respectively... Saturday's game is a rematch of last year's NEWHL championship game, which Plattsburgh State won, 6-0.

ABOUT THE CARDINALS: Plattsburgh State is seeking its second NEWHL title in as many years and its seventh straight conference championship overall... The Cardinals won each of the final five Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) West championships… Plattsburgh State has also won six NCAA Division III national championships, including four of the past five, and has advanced to the national semifinals for seven straight seasons… Plattsburgh State is ranked at No. 2 in the D3hockey.com Women's Top-10 Poll and No. 3 in the USCHO.com Women's Division III Top-10 Poll… Several student-athletes contribute to a potent Cardinal offense that leads Division III in scoring offense (5.00 goals per game)... Sophomore forward Annie Katonka leads Division III in power-play goals (11) and ranks second nationally in both points per game (1.72) and goals per game (1.04)... Her 11 power-play goals are the third-most in a single season in program history, just one back of the program record shared by senior forward Courtney Moriarty (2017-18) and Laurie Bowler (2007-08)... Overall, Katonka has 43 points on 26 goals and 17 assists, leading the NEWHL in both points and goals... Moriarty ranks 18th in Division III in points per game (1.28), as she has tallied 32 points on 14 goals and 18 assists... She enters the weekend with 139 career points, which is tied for the seventh-most in program history... Sophomore defenseman Erin McArdle is tied for eighth in Division III in points per game among defensemen (0.80), while junior defenseman Hannah Kiraly is tied for 13th in the same statistical category... Freshman forward Taylor Whitney ranks ninth in the nation in points per game among freshmen (1.00)... Senior goaltender Kassi Abbott is enjoying a standout year in between the pipes for Plattsburgh State, as she leads Division III in goals-against average (0.69) and shutouts (12) while tying for the lead in save percentage (.960)... In addition to scoring offense, the Cardinals also lead Division III in scoring defense (0.68 goals allowed per game), scoring margin (4.32 goals per game), penalty kill efficiency (.971) and combined special teams (.611)... Head coach Kevin Houle has amassed a 391-50-25 record in his 16 years behind the Cardinal bench.

ABOUT THE LAKERS: Oswego is looking to build on some recent success against Plattsburgh State, as the Lakers defeated the Cardinals in 2016-17 at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena and tied Plattsburgh State in 2017-18 at the Marano Campus Center Arena... As the No. 3 seed last year in the NEWHL Tournament, Oswego defeated Buffalo State, 5-0, on the road before falling to Plattsburgh State, 6-0, in the championship game... The Lakers qualified for the NEWHL Tournament this year due in large part to a 3-0-1 start to their conference schedule... Oswego was 5-5-2 against SUNY Cortland, SUNY Potsdam and Buffalo State this year... Offensively, the Lakers are led by junior forward Eryn Stewart, who ranks 16th in the NEWHL in point scoring (15)... Junior defenseman Kate Randazzo and freshman defenseman Avery Webster are tied for ninth in the NEWHL in defenseman scoring with 10 points each... Junior goaltender Rachael Farmer, who transferred to Oswego prior to this year from Cortland, has been solid in goal for the Lakers, owning a 1.67 goals-against average and a .946 save percentage... Head coach Diane Dillon is in her 13th season leading Oswego and owns a career record of 163-170-27.

WHAT'S NEXT: The winner of this game will face either second-seeded Potsdam or third-seeded Cortland in the championship game on Saturday, March 2, at 3 p.m. at the site of the highest-remaining seed... The winner of the NEWHL championship earns an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament.