March 1, 2025

No. 10 Plattsburgh Women's Ice Hockey Shuts Out No. 8 Cortland to Advance to the SUNYAC Championship

Cortland

17-5-4

Plattsburgh

19-6-1

Final

Cortland 17-5-4

Plattsburgh 19-6-1

Plattsburgh Sports Information Department

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The No. 10 Plattsburgh State women's ice hockey shut out No. 8 Cortland in a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) semifinal matchup, as the Cardinals will advance to the SUNYAC Championship game. Ciara Wall (Somerville, Mass./New Hampshire) scored the game-winning goal late in the first period while Chloe Lewis (Monson, Mass./Northwood School) stopped all 20 shots that came her way for her 10^th shutout of the season.

The Plattsburgh State Cardinals are currently the No. 10 team in the latest USCHO.com Division III Top-15 Poll, while the Cortland Red Dragons are No. 8

In a rematch of last year's SUNYAC file, Wall tallied her sixth goal of the season for the game-winner and Tessa Morris (Grand Island, N.Y./Rome Girl's Hockey) notched the empty-netter for her 10^th score of the season to seal the win. Molly Riggi (Farmingdale, N.J./New Jersey Titans) assisted on both goals while Mae Olshansky (Las Vegas, Nev./North American Hockey Academy) picked up one helper. Lewis moved to 19-6-1 with the win with her 20-save shutout.

Both teams went scoreless on the power play with the Cards getting two chances while the Red Dragons had one. Plattsburgh State won the shot battle over the 60-minute affair, outshooting the opposition 23-20.

The Cardinals improved to 19-6-1 with the win and next take on Oswego State in the SUNYAC Championship in Oswego, New York on Saturday, March 8 at 3 p.m. Cortland falls to 17-5-4 and concludes their 2024-25 season.

The game was fought largely in the neutral zone and along the boards in this one, as neither team was able to generate much offense, evidenced by the 43 total shots between the two teams. Plattsburgh had a strong 9-5 advantage in the first period, as they were able generate a few chances on net and put pressure on the Cortland netminder.

The Cardinal pressure finally came through with just under a minute left in the period, as Riggi and Olshansky freed a puck along the boards. Olshansky made a centering pass over to Wall who was unmarked in the slot, and the fifth year finished top shelf for a 1-0 Plattsburgh lead heading into the intermission.

The second period saw just six total shots on goal, as defenses held strong, even with a power play chance for each team.

In the third period, shots became easier to come by, as the Red Dragons ended up outshooting Plattsburgh 12-11 in the period. Lewis stood tall for the Cards, however, knocking down each shot that came her way.

As the defense held for Plattsburgh, the team drew a penalty with just under four minutes to go, allowing them to potentially ice the game. The Cards couldn't score, but they shaved off two minutes late in the third period where Cortland was unable to pull their goalie or get any sort of offense going.

In the final minute of play, Cortland finally pulled their goalie, but Plattsburgh's defense held up even against the extra attacker, winning an important face off. The team then was able to hold the puck along the boards before Riggi started a breakout up the ice. The junior then found Morris up ahead crossing the blueline and the first-year forward found the back of the net to seal the win.

Molly Goergen made 21 saves in net, taking the loss for the Red Dragons.