POTSDAM, N.Y. – The No. 3 Plattsburgh State women’s ice hockey team handled business on the road, taking down SUNY Potsdam in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action. Zsofia Pazmandi (Kaposvar, Hungary/Ontario Hockey) scored two goals for the second time this season, including the game-winner, to help Plattsburgh stay unbeaten on the season.
The Plattsburgh State Cardinals are currently the No. 3 team in the USCHO.com Division III Top-15 Poll for women’s ice hockey.
Pazmandi scored the second and fourth of the game for the Cards, while Ava Mattaliano (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich./Belle Tire) opened the scoring and Mattie Norton (Glen Carbon, Ill./St. Louis Lady Blues) added the game’s final goal. Chloe Lewis (Monson, Mass./Northwood School) earned the first start of her college career and picked up the win, stopping 18 shots over 60 minutes.
The Cardinals outshot the Bears 50-19 over the 60 minutes of game action, as Plattsburgh also went 2-5 on the power play and Potsdam was 1-3.
Plattsburgh State moves to 4-0-1 (4-0 SUNYAC) with the win and looks towards the Panther/Cardinal Classic for their next set of games. They will take on current No. 8 Wisconsin Eau-Claire in their first game and will play either No. 6 Middlebury or an Endicott team receiving votes. Potsdam falls to 2-2 (1-2 SUNYAC) and plays Cortland tomorrow, Nov. 18 at 3 p.m. on the road.
Mattaliano opened the scoring for Plattsburgh just over four and a half minutes into the game, as Norton and Taya Balfour (Moorestown, N.J./Philadelphia Jr. Flyers) assisted the first-year on her second goal of the year. Potsdam was quick to respond, however, as Kaylee Merrill tallied a power play score less than two minutes later.
The game remained tied through the rest of the first period, until Plattsburgh found themselves in a five-on-three situation, with Julia Masotta (Tewksbury, Mass./Norwich) slowly working her way up the ice toward the goal. As she approached the goal, she dumped the puck off to Pazmandi, who went to a knew for a powerful one-timer past the Bear’s goaltender, giving the Cards they would not relinquish.
After a scoreless second period where Plattsburgh outshot Potsdam 14-7, the Cards gave themselves some breathing room with a score at the 7:35 minute mark of the third period. Working once more on the power play, Norton scored on a deep shot past the Potsdam goaltender, as she was screened and unable to get a clear look at Norton taking the slapshot. Aizah Thompson (Williamsville, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) and Bridget Orr (Excelsior, Minn./North American Hockey Academy) each picked up assists on the play.
With Plattsburgh now leading by two goals, the Bears were desperate for a score, eventually pulling their goalie. Almost immediately after pulling their goaltender, the Cardinals were able to regain possession, allowing Pazmandi to score her second goal of the game with the empty net, assisted by Mattaliano, sealing the Cardinal win.
For Potsdam, Magalie Parent made 46 saves over 59:53 minutes of action, while Megan Teachout and Alex Quinn had assists.
(Plattsburgh State Women’s Hockey Photo)
