PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — Host Plattsburgh edged the Middlebury College women’s hockey team on Saturday, 3-1, in an NCAA Division III quarterfinal tournament matchup.
Plattsburgh (24-2-2), ranked No. 2 in NCAA D-III, snapped a 1-1 tie against the No. 4 Panthers in the third period and then added a late empty-netter to nail down the victory and advance to the final four.
Middlebury (20-5-3 and the NESCAC champion) received an unfavorable draw out of order to limit travel to the western colleges participating in the nine-team tournament. No. 3 Elmira was also in the four-team side of the bracket with Plattsburgh and Middlebury, while No. 1 Norwich found itself on the other side of the draw.
The Cardinals took the lead at 14:34 of the second period, three seconds after a power play had expired. Panther goalie Lin Han (35 saves) denied Erin McArdle’s hard shot from the right side with her blocker, but McArdle followed the shot and tucked the rebound home.
Middlebury senior Maddie Winslow answered with a power-play goal at 17:45. Jenna Marotta sent the puck from the right point to the top of the zone to Madie Leidt, and Winslow tipped in Leidt’s shot on goal.
Middlebury went on the power play 1:01 into the third period. The best chance came 1:30 in when Cardinal goalie Kassi Abbott (26 saves) stopped Leidt’s shot and her rebound bid..
Plattsburgh went back on top 6:58 into the third with a goal three seconds after a power-play opportunity had expired. Ashley Songin roofed the rebound of a Lizzy Viola shot.
The Panthers pressed, but Abbott turned away some quality chances. Middlebury pulled Han after a timeout with 2:12 to go, and Plattsburgh’s Mackenzie Millen added an empty-goal with 12 seconds remaining.
The loss was Middlebury’s first of the season on the road, snapped a 10-game unbeaten streak, and was just the Panthers’ second loss of 2018.