Women’s Hockey Moves on to NCAA Semifinals with a 4-1 win over St. Thomas
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – For the second-straight year, The Plattsburgh State women’s ice hockey team defeated St. Thomas (Minn.) in the NCAA Division III women’s ice hockey tournament, grinding out a 4-1 victory Saturday afternoon.
The Cardinals did not wait as long as last year as it took overtime for Plattsburgh State to score its first goal. This year Shannon Stewart found the back of the net 7:14 into the first period.
The Pickering, Ontario native received a pass from Bridget Balisy on the left side of the net before slipping it five-hole through the legs of St. Thomas goaltender Taylor Neisen while falling to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.
That 1-0 Cardinal lead would last for over 40 minutes as neither team would find the back of the net in the second period.
It was not till Cardinal freshman Melissa Sheeran would make 2-0 with a power play goal with 11:56 left in regulation.
Sheeran converted a rebound goal off a Shannon Stewart shot from the center of the slot. Neisen would make the save but the puck would kick right to the stick of Sheeran who buried it.
Two minutes later Balisy would light the lamp again for Plattsburgh State. Hailing from Brampton, Ontario, Balisy was on the receiving end of tic-tac-toe passing from Sheeran and Stewart setting up the Cardinals third goal.
St. Thomas would answer back though with a power play goal of its own. Tori Bailey ripped a shot from the top of the slot passed Cardinals goalie Camille Leonard to make it 3-1 Plattsburgh State with 5:32 remaining.
Junior, Giovanna Scense would cap it off for the Cardinals with an unassisted empty net goal. Sense got her stick in the passing lane in the neutral zone knocking the puck into the Tommies zone. She raced past the St. Thomas defense on her way to sliding it into the back of the net.
Leonard finished with the lone blemish making 28 saves on 29 shots. Neisen made 25 saves allowing three goals for the Tommies.
With the win Plattsburgh State (24-2-2) will host the Division III Women’s Ice Hockey Semifinals and Finals on March 20 and 21 in the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena. More information about matchups, tickets and game times will be available at www.gocardinalsports.com once it is known.
