PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — No. 1 Plattsburgh State women's ice hockey extended its winning streak to 13 games with a 5-0 shut-out victory over SUNY Cortland in Northeast Women's Hockey League (NEWHL) play on Saturday afternoon at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena.
Plattsburgh State (21-1-0, 16-0-0 NEWHL) completed a two-game NEWHL series sweep of Cortland (12-7-2, 6-7-2 NEWHL). Plattsburgh State outscored Cortland a combined 8-2 over the series.
Plattsburgh State controlled play throughout the game as the Cardinals outshot the Red Dragons, 46-14, on the day. The Cardinals scored one in the first period, twice in the second period and twice in the third period.
Junior forward and alternate captain Annie Katonka (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pittsburgh Penguins Elite) got Plattsburgh State on the scoreboard with a power-play goal at 11:04 of the first period. Standing in front of the net, Katonka redirected a shot by senior defenseman Hannah Kiraly (Glendale, Ariz./Northern Cyclones) past the Cortland goaltender. Katonka's goal, assisted by Kiraly and freshman forward Ivy Boric (Newport Beach, Calif./Anaheim Lady Ducks), was her 16th of the season.
Plattsburgh State increased its lead to 2-0 at 9:35 of the second period when junior forward and team captain Madison Walker (Denver, Colo./Lansing Spartans) scored her seventh goal of 2019-20. Sophomore forward Taylor Whitney (Livonia, Mich./Little Caesars) played the puck around the back of the goalie near the left post and passed the puck in front of the net where Walker scored into a vacated net. Whitney and sophomore defenseman Sierra Benjamin (Palm Coast, Fla./Northwood School) tallied the assists.
Plattsburgh State continued its offensive pressure and junior forward Kaitlin Drew-Mead (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) made the score 3-0 with her ninth goal of the season, assisted by senior forward Sarah Wolf (Fairport, N.Y./Boston Shamrocks Elite) and Benjamin, at 13:52 of the second period. On a breakaway after taking a pass from Wolf in the neutral zone, Drew-Mead used a deke and finished with a backhand over the right pad of the Cortland goaltender.
The Cardinals, who continued to control play and outshot the Red Dragons 16-4 in the third period, built their lead to 4-0 when sophomore forward Sara Krauseneck (Saginaw, Mich./Northern Cyclones) wired a wrist shot from just below the left circle over the goaltender's right shoulder and into the upper-left corner of the net. Junior forward Abby Brush (Mount Prospect, Ill./Chicago Young Americans) and junior defenseman and captain Erin McArdle (Macomb, Mich./Belle Tire) garnered the assists.
Plattsburgh State scored its final goal of the night to make the score 5-0 at 15:27 of the third period. Boric intercepted a pass behind the Cortland net and passed the puck to sophomore forward Nicole Unsworth (Milwaukee, Wis./East Coast Wizards) in the slot. Unsworth moved the puck to her backhand and lifted a shot underneath the crossbar for her 12th goal of the season. Boric's assist was her team-best 22nd of the season.
The Cardinals did not allow the Red Dragons back into the game and completed the 5-0 shutout.
Sophomore goaltender Ashley Davis (Winterville, N.C./Northwood School), who made 14 saves, remained undefeated as she improved to 14-0-0. It was the fourth shutout of the season for Davis. Chelsea Allain (9-7-2) stopped 41 shots for Cortland.
Plattsburgh State finished 1-of-4 on the power play, while holding Cortland to 0-of-4.
Plattsburgh State next faces No. 4 Elmira College for Senior Night at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14. Cortland plays at King's College on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m.