CANTON, N.Y. – The No. 6 Plattsburgh State women’s ice hockey team picked up a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) win on Friday evening, taking down SUNY Canton 3-1. With the victory, head coach Kevin Houle became just the third coach in Division III women’s ice hockey to achieve the 500-win mark, joining Middlebury’s Bill Mandigo and Gustavus Adolphus’ Mike Carroll.
The Plattsburgh State Cardinals are currently ranked sixth in the USCHO.com Division III Top-15 Poll.
Houle is the seventh in women’s hockey history across all divisions to hit the 500 mark, with Wisconsin-River Falls head coach Joe Cranston close behind. To commemorate the momentous win, Houle will be honored prior to the team’s SUNYAC matchup against Morrisville on Dec. 6 at 7 p.m.
Kayson Ruegge (Edmond, Okla./Philadelphia Jr. Flyers) tallied the opening goal for the Cardinals, her first in her collegiate career, while Ciara Wall (Somerville, Mass./New Hamphsire) had the game-winner and Kate Conlon (New Hudson, Mich./Little Caesars) sealed the win late in the third period. Ruegge also added an assist, while Chloe Lewis (Monson, Mass./Northwood School) picked up her third win of the season with 18 saves.
The Cardinals controlled the game throughout, dominating on shots 39-19. They also had the only two power play opportunities between either team, scoring on their second and final advantage opportunity to go 1-2 on the day.
Plattsburgh State moves to 3-1-1 (2-1-1 SUNYAC) with the win and next takes on Buffalo State on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 3 p.m. Canton falls to 2-5 (1-4 SUNYAC) and next takes on No. 7 Utica on the road on Tuesday, Nov. 26.
The game began with a scoreless first period, as Plattsburgh State outshot the ‘Roos 12-5. The Cardinals looked to be off to a slow start but jump started their offense with a power play opportunity at the 8:26 mark, as they put six shots on goal in a two-minute span.
The Cards finally got on the board just over three-and-a-half minutes into the second period, as Ruegge took a stretch pass from Su-An Cho (Madison, Ala./Florida Alliance) up the ice and into the Plattsburgh offensive zone. The first-year took a quick shot from the right face-off circle that deflected off the defender in front of her and right past the Canton goalie for her first career score.
The rest of the period saw the Cardinals continue to control the game, putting up 14 shots to Canton’s five.
Play continued to sway Plattsburgh’s way in the third period, as a penalty in the ninth minute set up the Cardinals to cushion their lead. Just over a minute into the advantage, Ruegge was able to keep a puck just inside the blueline, passing off to Mattie Norton (Glen Carbon, Ill./St. Louis Lady Blues). Norton passed off the right face-off circle where Wall stood undefended, skating her way towards the goalie unguarded. The senior then unloaded a strong shot, beating the Canton goalie glove side for her first goal of the season. Norton and Ruegge each tallied assists on the play.
The Kangaroos did not go away quietly, however, as a goal from Anna Pavlasova put the ‘Roos down just one goal with over eight minutes to play.
Plattsburgh, however, continued to play good defense and keep up the pressure offensively, eventually resulting in the game-sealing goal. Just before the 18-minute mark, Conlon skated across the blueline into the offensive zone and took a deep shot from the point as the Cardinals were appearing to go for a change. However, the Canton goalie misplayed a shot that would have likely missed high, deflecting the puck into the goal with her right blocker to seal the win for the Cards. Sydnee Francis (Canton, N.Y./Nepean Jr. Wildcats) and Taya Balfour (Moorestown, N.J./Philadelphia Jr. Flyers) each picked up assists.
Molly Lenihan played 58-and-a-half minutes in goal, making 36 saves as she took the loss.
(Photo provided by Plattsburgh State Athletic Dept.)
