PLATTSBURGH, NY- The Utica College women’s hockey team was eliminated from post season play Sunday afternoon as the Pioneers fell to nationally ranked No. 1 and top seeded Plattsburgh State 6-1 in the ECAC West semifinal.
The Pioneers wrap up the season with a 17-9-1 overall record. This marks the fourth time in five years that UC has won at least 16 games in a season.
After a scoreless first period, the teams combined to score five goals in the second. Plattsburgh opened the scoring at 1:09 of the second as Mackenzie Millen netted her sixth of the year, off assists from Maci Hoskins and Courtney Moriarty.
The Cardinals scored again at 13:34 as Melissa Sheeran scored her team-best 27th of the year, assisted by Kayla Meneghin. It was short lived however as the Pioneers responded just 14 seconds later as Taylor Osowski (Highlands Ranch, CO/Colorado Selects) buried a loose puck in front for her team-leading 10th of the season. Senior Jane Pagano (Erie, PA/Tabor Academy) assisted on the play. A pair of Erin Brand power play goals extended the Cardinals’ lead to 4-1 before the end of the period.
Plattsburgh tacked on two more goals in the final 20 minutes to pick up their 24th win of the year. The Cardinals will host Elmira College in the championship game next Saturday at 7 p.m.
The home team outshot Utica 44-34 on the day and the Cardinals were 3-for-7 on the power play. Senior Keira Goin (Dobbs Ferry, NY/Hotchkiss School) made 38 saves in her final game as a Pioneer. She wraps up her career as the program’s career record hold in wins (40), shutouts (13), and she is also the single-season record holder for shutouts (seven). UC will also graduate Gabrielle Schnepp (Northville, MI/Belle Tire), who finishes her career ranked fourth all-time in career points (116) and third in assists (72), Jane Pagano (Erie, PA/Tabor Academy), Emily Coope (Phoenix, AZ/Colorado Tigers), and Victoria Pelton (Sterling Heights, MI/Belle Tire).
