Plattsburgh, NY- The Utica College women’s hockey team fell to nationally ranked No. 2 Plattsburgh State 3-2 in ECAC West action Sunday afternoon.
This marks the third ranked opponent that UC has lost to by just one point. The Pioneers move to 9-10-4 overall and 6-7-3 in conference play, while the Cardinals improve to 19-2-2 (15-2 ECAC West). Utica returns to action next weekend as it travels to Buffalo State. Faceoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Plattsburgh opened the scoring at 8:14 as Shannon Stewart netted her 17th goal of the season, assisted by Bridget Balisy and Alyssa Park. The Cardinals extended the lead just four minutes later as Balisy scored a power-play tally to give the home team a 2-0 cushion. Utica got on the board with just over one minute remaining in the first period as freshman Taylor Osowski (Highlands Ranch, CO/Colorado Selects) scored her fifth of the year, assisted by Louise Steele-Norton (Avondale, PA/Millbrook School).
After a scoreless second stanza, Plattsburgh regained the two-goal lead just 50 seconds into the third period as Balisy netted her second of the day and 14th of the season, assisted by Parke and Erin Brand. The Pioneers once again made it a one-goal game at 4:28 as Steele-Norton found the back of the net for her eighth of the year, assisted by freshman Samantha Husak (Jackson, MI/Team Detroit).
Sophomore Keira Goin (Dobbs Ferry, NY/Hotchkiss School) made 32 saves in the loss, while her counterpart, Camille Leonard had 11 saves for Plattsburgh. The Cardinals were 2-for-7 on the power-play, while UC was held scoreless in six opportunities with the man advantage.
