Last Time Out

The Oswego State Lakers and Plattsburgh State Cardinals battled it out for the third time this season. After a six-goal first period between the teams, the Cardinals came out victorious 6-2. Plattsburgh State took a 3-0 season series lead on Oswego State and remains undefeated in the Northeast Women’s Hockey League (11-0-0). The Lakers, on the other hand, dropped to 4-7-0 in the NEWHL and remain tied with SUNY Potsdam with eight points.

For the Lakers, Olivia Ellis and Julieann White both had two-point performances in the loss. Ellis contributed two assists, one to the White goal, and another to the Laura Thacker goal with 9.7 seconds left in the game. Thacker’s goal was the first of the season for her. Ellis’s assist on the Thacker goal was the 100th point of her career. According to the women’s hockey archived records, she is the first player in women’s history reach 100 points.

Plattsburgh State had four players who had multi-point performances. Annie Katonka led all point-getters with three assists throughout the game. Kayla Meneghin, who leads the Cardinals in points, had two goals in the victory. Kassi Abbott made 21 saves including an 11-save third period, allowing only one goal during a 5-on-3 power play. Also notable was the number of penalties the team racked up, taking 11 penalties giving the Lakers plenty of opportunity.

Looking at Plattsburgh State

There are a lot of interesting statistics to mention and players to watch for the Cardinals as they continue to lead the nation as one of the top-ranked teams. Many eyes are on Kayla Meneghin, who has the chance to make history in NCAA Div. III women’s hockey by the time the season ends.

Meneghin, who currently has 97 assists, needs three more to become the sixth player, according to Plattsburgh State Director of Athletic Communications Brian Savard, to hit the 100-assist plateau in NCAA Div. III women’s hockey history. After yesterday’s victory, where she added a shorthanded goal, she is now tied for fifth overall in history for shorthanded goals with 11. Meneghin is tied with the great Laura Hurd from Elmira College. With all of this, she is 22 points away from 200 total points in her career as a Cardinal. She would be the third player to hit the achievement; she currently sits in eighth.

Kassi Abbott, who has played in 12 games this season, is one of the top goaltenders in Div. III women’s hockey, as well. She is second in the nation with save percentage (.956). She only trails Sam Walther of Hamilton College, who the Lakers have also faced this season. She is third in the goals against average category with 1.00. She trails Maddie Scavotto (0.78) of Saint Anselm College and Walther (0.95).

Melissa Sheeran leads all scorers with 33 points and a team-leading 12 assists. Courtney Moriarty, who has 31 points, has a team-leading 18 goals. Sheeran had a goal yesterday, and Moriarty had two assists.

The Cardinals are still undefeated on the road, with an 8-0-1 record after the win yesterday. They have the possibility to win-out the regular season, based on the history of the regular season against Oswego State, Buffalo State, and SUNY Potsdam.

Lakers vs. Cardinals History

The 6-2 victory for Plattsburgh State was the 28th win over the Lakers since the 2006-2007 season. It was also the 18th time the Cardinals had won by at least four goals since the same season. However, head coach Diane Dillon is a little more optimistic about this game. She is hoping to have the same result as last season.

After a 7-1 defeat against Plattsburgh State, the Lakers came back to win 3-2 in their only victory in program history against the Cardinals.

“A year ago it was a similar outcome, we lost 7-1 and then came back to beat them 3-2 the second day,” Dillon said in a post-game interview with the Oswegonian. “We can play with these guys.”

Olivia Ellis now has six total points against the Cardinals, with three goals and three assists.

This will be the 30th meeting between the two teams, between the ECAC West and now the NEWHL. There is a possibility for one more meeting this season in the NEWHL playoffs, should the seeding align where they play at least in the semifinals.

Player Spotlight

OSW: Olivia Ellis

Olivia Ellis could be considered one of the best players that Oswego State women’s hockey has seen in its history. She is the first player to reach 100 points in her career. She has received numerous accolades during her career as a Laker. Other than being the record holder in career points, assists and goals, she has the season record for points. Ellis, who notched two assists in the loss against Plattsburgh State, could be pivotal in the game today. She will be watched heavily by all, as she attempts to increase her point total before the end of the season.

PLA: Kassi Abbott

While the Plattsburgh State goaltenders have split games fairly evenly, Kassi Abbott has stood out as the leader of the two. With top-in-the-nation statistics between save percentage and goals against average, she has been a key reason for the success of the Cardinals this season. The third-year goaltender has a 16-1-2 record at Plattsburgh State, with her only loss coming this season when the Cardinals lost 3-4 to then-No. 2/2 Norwich University. Her 1.00 goals against average is the first time she has allowed at least one per game since Nov. 25 after a 1-0 victory over Adrian College.

By the Numbers

RECORD (vs. each other) [conference]

OSW: 8-11-1 (1-28-0) [4-7-0]

PLA: 17-2-1 (28-1-0) [11-0-0]

GOALS (per game) [against each other this season]

OSW: 42 (2.1) [2]

PLA: 81 (4.1) [14]

SHOTS (per game) [against each other this season]

OSW: 604 (30.2) [70]

PLA: 775 (38.8) [114]

POWER PLAY (percentage) [against each other this season]

OSW: 13-89 (14.6%) [2-16 / 12.5%]

PLA: 22-96 (22.9%) [4-14 / 28.5%]

Prediction

The Oswego State Lakers will, once again, have an uphill battle against the Plattsburgh State Cardinals as one would expect. There is a possibility of repeated history similar to last season, but it is hard to tell whether or not that could actually happen given the depth of the Cardinals.

Olivia Ellis will by riding on momentum after notching the 100th point of her career at Oswego State. Laura Thacker will also look to add to her goal total before the end of her final season, after adding her first goal of her senior season yesterday. Mariah Madrigal will have to bounce back, and the defense will have to step up, after allowing six goals. Jean-Marie Padden and Julieann White will be looking for the same opportunities they had during the game, and hopefully, finish on more.

Kayla Meneghin will look to get a couple points closer to the 200-point mark in her career, as well as the 100-assist plateau. Kassi Abbott, who will most likely get the start against the Lakers, will look to drop below the 1.00 goals against average once again and remain a top goaltender in the nation. In general, Plattsburgh State will attempt to sweep the Lakers this season, as well as remain perfect in the NEWHL conference standings.

Plattsburgh State wins 5-2.