It was a tough weekend for the Oswego State women’s ice hockey team, as it saw both its offense and defense struggle in a pair of shutout losses at the hand of sixth-ranked SUNY Plattsburgh on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon at the Campus Center Ice Arena.

Plattsburgh’s Alyssa Parke scored twice and added two assists for a four-point night in a 5-0 victory over the Lakers on Saturday night. The following afternoon, the Cardinals again pitched a shutout and received goal contributions from six different skaters in a 6-0 victory to close out the two-game series.

The Lakers (7-8-2 overall, 6-4-2 ECAC West) fell behind early on Saturday night, as Plattsburgh’s Justine Fisher scored off a rebound at 2:35 of the first period. Chelsea VanGlahn recorded a shot from the slot that was saved by Oswego State sophomore goaltender Catherine Cote, but Cote allowed a rebound in front of the net, where Fisher blasted a slap shot for the goal.

The Cardinals (12-3-2 overall, 10-0-2 ECAC West) increased their lead to two before the end of the first period on a goal by Ashton Hogan at 17:54 of the frame. Parke recorded a shot on goal and Hogan capitalized on the rebound attempt given up by Cote. Plattsburgh recorded 12 shots on goal in the first period compared to Oswego State’s six.

The Plattsburgh special teams took over in the second and third periods, as the Cardinals tallied a power-play goal at 8:35 of the second period. Following a tripping penalty by freshman forward Carly Marchment, Plattsburgh’s Allison Era fed a pass to Parke, who connected on her first of two goals in the game.

Leading 3-0 after two periods, the Cardinals put the game out of reach early in the third period, scoring a shorthanded goal at 1:24. Plattsburgh’s leading goal scorer Teal Gove scored a skater down with the assist going to Parke. Parke added a power-play goal at 8:18 of the third period for the game’s final goal.

The Cardinals finished 2-for-4 on the power play, while the Lakers struggled with the extra skater, finishing 0-for-6.

Cote took the loss in net for the Lakers, recording 28 saves on 33 shots faced. Plattsburgh goaltender Sydney Aveson recorded the shutout with 19 saves.

Sunday afternoon brought more of the same, as the Plattsburgh offense overwhelmed the Laker defense and the Plattsburgh defense limited the Laker offense to 18 shots for the game. The Cardinals took advantage of their first power play opportunity of the game after sophomore forward Olivia Boersen was called for holding. With just three seconds remaining on the power play, Plattsburgh’s Jordan Caldwell tallied the game’s first goal at 9:15 of the first period. The Cardinals led 1-0 at the first intermission.

Plattsburgh took control of the game in the second period, scoring three goals in the first 6:10 of the frame. Jenny Kistner scored at 2:33 of the second period to give the Cardinals a two-goal lead before Shannon Stewart pushed the lead to three at 3:07. Kylie Klassen earned the assist on Kistner’s goal and Gove and Erika Shaubel were credited with the assists on Stewart’s goal.

Era scored at 6:10 of the second period with assists going to Stewart and Morgan MacInnis.

Gove scored the team’s second power-play goal of the game at 2:24 with Parke being credited with the assist. Henderson’s body checking penalty led to the extra skater.

MacInnis added a sixth goal at 10:33 of the third period. Gove and Parke were credited with assists on the play.

Aveson earned her second consecutive shutout, recording 18 saves. Freshman goaltender Bridgett Smith finished with 28 saves on 34 shots faced.

Both teams had four power play attempts in the game, with Plattsburgh capitalizing on two. Plattsburgh boasts the second best penalty killing unit in Division III with a success rate of 94.3 percent. They have allowed just four goals on 70 chances.

The Lakers currently sit in fourth in the ECAC West, six points ahead of Neumann and Utica, who are fighting for the sixth and final playoff spot. Oswego State is six points behind Elmira College for a chance at a home playoff game, but the Soaring Eagles are 10-0-0 so far in conference play.

Oswego State heads on the road to face Buffalo State in a two-game series at the Buffalo State Sports Arena beginning on Friday, Jan. 27.