POTSDAM, N.Y.—Top-ranked Plattsburgh State (21-0-2, 13-0-1 ECAC West)
shutout the SUNY Potsdam women’s hockey team (8-13-2, 4-9-1) 6-0 at Cheel
Arena on Sunday afternoon. Junior forward Ali Vakos (Hamden, Conn./UConn)
led the Cardinals with two goals and an assist and junior forward Chelsea
VanGlahn (Point Pleasant, N.J./Wyoming Seminary) also had a three-point
day with a goal and two assists. Bears senior goalie Jen Conophy
(Glenmont, N.Y./Albany Ice Cats) made 40 saves
After a slow start to the contest, the Cardinals struck quickly. At 5:46,
sophomore forward Emma Rutherford (Ottawa, Ontario/North American Hockey
Academy) scored on a pass from senior forward Teal Gove (Berwick,
Ontario/Ontario Hockey Academy) at the right side of the net. Two minutes
later, junior forward Ali Vakos (Hamden, Conn./UConn) wrapped the puck
around a sprawling Jen Conophy (Glenmont, N.Y./Albany Ice Cats) for a 2-0
advantage. Potsdam’s best opportunity came with just under two minutes
left in the period. Junior forward Jen Crawford broke in to the Cardinals
zone on the right side and fired. Cardinal junior goalie Sydney Aveson
(West Covina, Calif./Minnesota State) made a routine save and then dove
across the crease to deflect the puck out of harm’s way after Crawford got
away another shot off the rebound. Plattsburgh outshot the Bears 19-6 in
the first period.
The Cardinals continued to control the play in the second period. Conophy
was especially sharp in the second period, turning aside 15 Plattsburgh
shots. VanGlahn got the only goal of the second period after she picked
off a pass on her own blue, went the length of the ice and roofed the puck
over Conophy’s left shoulder. The Cardinals led 3-0 after 40 minutes.
Plattsburgh broke the game open with three goals in the final period.
Sophomore forward Shannon Stewart (Pickering, Ontario/Durham West
Lightning) scored a power-play goal just 2:04 into the third period. Two
minutes later sophomore Alyssa Parke (Lynbrook, N.Y./National Sports
Academy) made it a 5-0 contest. Vakos struck again at the 16:11 mark to
close the scoring at 6-0.
Aveson finished with 15 saves for her sixth shutout of the season. The
Cardinals were 1-4 on the power play and the Bears were 0-2.
Potsdam hosts Buffalo State next Saturday and Sunday with a playoff spot
on the line. The Bears face the Bengals at 7 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m.
on Sunday.
