UTICA, NY- Sophomore forward Stephanie Moberg (Saratoga Springs/Northwood School) netted the game-winner with 26 seconds left in the contest as the nationally-ranked No. 1 Plattsburgh State women's hockey team defeated host No. 11 Utica College 4-2 Saturday afternoon in ECAC Women's West Conference action.
The Pioneers dropped to 7-6 overall and 3-2 in conference, while the Cardinals improved 13-1 overall and remain undefeated atop the ECAC Women's West Conference at 8-0. Plattsburgh out shot UC 36-19 on the day and improved their all-time series record to 18-0-2 against the Pioneers.
Moberg's game-winner was assisted by junior forward Shay Bywater (Port Coquitlam, BC/Warner Warriors) and senior defender Julie Devereux (Lombard, Ill/Chicago Mission). Plattsburgh's Laurie Bowler (Brantford, ONT/Burlington Barracudas) scored on an open net with less than a second to go in the contest to ensure the victory.
The Cardinals netted the first tally of the game 14:27 into the first period after a Claire O'Connor (Chicago, Ill./Chicago Young Americans) shot ricocheted off a Pioneer defenders skate into the back of the net. The goal that gave the Cardinals' a 1-0 lead beat UC goalie
Jill Doherty (Wellesley, MA/Kents Hill) (Kents Hill High School/Wellesley, MA) five hole. The goal for O'Connor, a junior forward, was her fourth goal of the season.
UC sophomore forward
Andrea Maxon (Canton, NY/Hugh C. Williams) tied the game up at 1-1 when she netted her eighth goal of the season off a rebound 16:27 into the second period. Junior captain
Jessica Leclerc (Augusta, ME/) sent in the initial shot that bounced off Plattsburgh State goalie Danielle Beattie (Brooklin, ONT/Aurora Panthers). Maxon swooped in and put home the rebound glove side past Beattie. LeClerc, a former all-conference defender, tallied her fourth assist of the season on the game-tying goal.
Plattsburgh took a 2-1 lead when freshman forward Kate Fairfield (Toronto, ONT/Oakville) knocked home a loose puck in front of the net 4:48 into the final stanza. The go-ahead goal was Fairfield's fourth of the season and it was unassisted.
The Pioneers answered right back 1:29 later when
Michelle Witz (Pelham, NY/) tied the game up for a second time at 2-2. Her fifth goal of the season was assisted by Leclerc and junior assistant captain
Samantha Rowan (Trenton, MI/) (Belle Tire/Trenton, MI).
Doherty, a sophomore goalie, recorded 33 saves on the night, while her counterpart, Danielle Beattie, stopped 18 shots on the day and improved her record to 10-1 on the year.
The Pioneers return to the ice Jan. 15th when they travel to host Cortland State. The puck is scheduled to drop at 3:00 p.m. The Cardinals are back in action next Friday when they host ECAC Women's West Conference rival RIT for a two-game set. The contest against the Tigers is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.
