PLATTSBURGH, N.Y.-Top-ranked SUNY Plattsburgh (10-1, 6-1 ECAC West) defeated the SUNY Potsdam women’s hockey team (5-4, 3-3) 5-0 in ECAC West play on Saturday afternoon. Freshman goaltender Alexa Pfeiffer (Sylvania, Ohio/Little Caesar’s) had a career-high 51 saves for the Bears. Melissa Sheeran scored three goals for Plattsburgh.
As expected, the Cardinals pressured Potsdam from the outset. Pfeiffer kept her team in the contest with 14 saves in the first period. Plattsburgh solved her just once. Melissa Sheeran scored an even strength goal at 12:31. Potsdam trailed just 1-0 at the first intermission.
Pfeiffer continued to shine the second period, stopping 17 more shots, while the Bears’ offense struggled to create chances. However, Sheeran struck again at the 13:47 mark. She worked her way through the Bears defense and wristed a low shot into the goal. With just 17 seconds remaining, Erin Brand put the Cardinals up 3-0 with another even-strength marker on a shot from the left point.
Plattsburgh didn’t take its foot off the gas in the third period and as a result Potsdam’s offense was unable to get going. Sheeran completed her hat trick on the power play at 8:08. Mackenzie Millen tacked on a final goal at the 15:36 mark to close the scoring at 5-0. Pfeiffer stopped another 20 shots in the final frame.
Camille Leonard recorded 11 saves to earn the shutout. The Bears were 0-for-2 on the power play and the Cardinals were 1-for-4.
Potsdam will now wrap up the semester with a home series against New England College next weekend. The Bears will host the Pilgrims at 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
