POTSDAM, N.Y. – No. 1 Plattsburgh State women's ice hockey extended its winning streak to 24 games with a 2-1 come-from-behind victory in overtime against SUNY Potsdam in a Northeastern Women's Hockey League (NEWHL) game on Wednesday night at Maxcy Ice Arena.
Plattsburgh State (6-0-0, 5-0-0 NEWHL) controlled play in the first period and outshot Potsdam (2-3-0, 2-3-0 NEWHL) 19-4. However, Potsdam was able to score to take a 1-0 lead over Plattsburgh State. After an initial shot and a scrum in front of the Plattsburgh State net, Potsdam's Alex Quinn was able to bang home the rebound for a goal at 9:23 of the first period. Kaylee Merrill and Emily DellaNeve assisted on the play.
The Cardinals continued to control play and outshot the Bears 19-2 in the second period. Their offensive pressure paid off when junior forward Madison Walker (Denver, Colo./Lansing Spartans) tied the game at 1-1 with her first goal of the season at 12:17 of the second period. After a face-off win in the offensive zone, the Cardinals passed the puck around until it ended up on the stick of sophomore forward Taylor Whitney (Livonia, Mich./Little Caesars) along the left sideboards. Whitney played the puck to sophomore Nicole Unsworth (Milwaukee, Wis./East Coast Wizards), who was to the left of the crease. Unsworth redirected the pass across the front of the net where Walker, a team captain, came in to quickly deposit the puck into the back of the net for the goal. Unsworth and Whitney recorded assists on the goal.
In the third period, Plattsburgh State held a 19-2 advantage in shots, but was unable to score and the game went into overtime tied at 1-1.
Unsworth completed the comeback victory for the Cardinals with her second goal of the season at 1:22 of overtime. After a battle for the puck in the left corner of the Cardinals' offensive zone, Unsworth skated the puck out and circled into the slot where she released a wrist shot that the goaltender got a piece of, but was unable to keep from bouncing over the goal line for the game-winning tally. Whitney garnered her second assist of the night on the play.
Sophomore goaltender Ashley Davis (Winterville, N.C./Northwood School) (4-0-0) made seven saves for Plattsburgh State and Kayla McCabe (0-2-0) stopped 58 shots for Potsdam.
Plattsburgh State held a 60-8 advantage in shots on goal.
The Cardinals finished 0-of-4 on the power play and the Bears were 0-of-1.
Plattsburgh State returns home to face NEWHL foe SUNY Canton as part of Rock the Red Day at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16. Potsdam steps away from NEWHL play to host Saint Michael's College at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19.
Potsdam Story
POTSDAM, N.Y.- Senior goaltender Kayla McCabe (Watertown, N.Y./Syracuse Nationals) made a career-high 58 saves, but defending national champion and top-ranked Plattsburgh State (6-0, 5-0 NEWHL) rallied to defeat the SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team (2-3, 2-3) 2-1 in overtime. Freshman forward Alex Quinn (Potsdam, N.Y./St. Lawrence Steel) scored her second career goal for the Bears.
The Cardinals controlled the puck for most of the first period and outshot the Potsdam by a wide margin, but the Bears' defense blocked shots and limited rebound opportunities. McCabe was also sharp with 19 saves in the opening 20 minutes. At the 7:17 mark, Plattsburgh was whistled for a tripping penalty and the ensuing power play woke up the Bears. The Cardinals killed the penalty, but Potsdam grabbed the lead six seconds later. Quinn began the sequence with a shot from the left point and Plattsburgh sophomore goalie Ashley Davis (Winterville, N.C./Northwood School) made the save, but gave up a big rebound. Bears freshman forward Emily DellaNeve (Buffalo, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) sent the rebound back on net and Davis kicked out another rebound and then stopped a shot from freshman forward Kaylee Merrill (Wasilla, Alaska/Anchorage North Stars). The puck slid to the right side of the net and with Davis down, Quinn buried it to make it 1-0. The score was unchanged at the first intermission.
The Cardinals continued to press and Potsdam did its best to spoil their scoring chances. The Bears kept Plattsburgh off balance until 7:43 left in the period. The Cardinals won the faceoff to the left of McCabe after an icing and the puck was deflected in front. Plattsburgh junior captain Madison Walker (Denver, Colo./Lansing Spartans) then tucked it just past a laid-out McCabe for the equalizer. McCabe made 18 more saves in the second period and the score was even after 40 minutes.
It was more of the same in the third. McCabe stopped all 19 shots she faced and Potsdam continued to block shots. The Bears killed two penalties, including one as time expired in regulation.
The Cardinals had the only three shots of overtime. Just over a minute into the extra session, Plattsburgh sophomore forward Taylor Whitney (Livonia, Mich./Little Caesar's) poked the puck free in the corner to sophomore forward Nicole Unsworth (Milwaukee, Wis./East Coast Wizards). Unsworth circled around and fired from the high slot. McCabe got a piece of the puck, but not enough as it bounced over the goal line at 1:22.
Davis made seven saves for her fourth win of the season. The Cardinals were 0-for-4 on the man advantage and the Bears were 0-for-1.
Potsdam is back in action next Tuesday at 6 p.m. when the Bears host Saint Michael's College for their first nonconference action of the season.