2008 Woodie Awards
No. 2 PSUC set to face No. 3 Middlebury Saturday
Lady Cards beat Williams, Panthers drop Elmira in first round of Classic
Matt Rosenberg
Issue date: 11/21/08 Section: Sports Updates
Originally published: 11/22/08 at 12:24 AM EST
Last update: 11/22/08 at 7:32 PM EST
Claire O'Connor had two points in her first action in two weeks and Vanessa Worz scored her first collegiate goal in her first game as the No. 2-ranked Plattsburgh State women's hockey team skated off with a 4-2 victory over Williams in the first round of the Panther/Cardinal Classic.
First period play between the Lady Cards and Ephs was a stalemate until O'Connor notched a power-play goal at 10:20.
In the second, Laurie Bowler scored another power-play goal for the Lady Cards. O'Connor assisted.
Despite the early power play success, Head Coach Kevin Houle said he thought the man-advantage was worse Friday than it has been this season. He said because Williams pressured on the penalty kill, it forced the power play into a few bad decisions.
"They're a pretty good team. I thought we played with a ton of energy and emotion and it was good to see," he said. "I thought our 5-on-5 was better and I thought our power play was worse. When you play against a team that pressures, it's not gonna be easy."
Just 56 seconds after Bowler, Worz connected on a one-timer feed from Amber Ellis. Worz was playing in her first game of the season. Earlier in the season, Houle said she was not healthy.
"It was good to see her out there. I thought she had a solid first game. Nothing spectacular, but she worked hard," Houle said. "She's pretty tenacious out there."
Steph Moon added the final PSUC goal at 15:28 of the second period on a 2-on-1 with Britt Meade. It was her second goal of the season.
The Lady Cards will face No. 3 Middlebury who upset No. 1 Elmira in the first game of the Classic. PSUC was 2-0 against the Panthers a season ago.
The two teams have played in the finals of the Classic last season and haven't seen each other since February of last season. It was the first time they did not face off the NCAA Tournament since 2006.
"I think we always get excited for Middlebury. They're an amazing team and so well-coached," O'Connor said. "It always seems to be a good game. Its a championship game its going to be that kind of atmosphere. This tournament is one of our most exciting weekends and one of our hardest ones."
The Lady Cards and Panthers square off in the championship game at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
No. 3 Middlebury upsets No. 1 Elmira
In the first game of the Panther/Cardinal Classic, No. 3 Middlebury outlasted No.1 Elmira, 2-1.
Despite being out-shot 41-22 in the game, the Panthers managed to hold off the Soaring Eagles behind 40 saves from Lexi Bloom, 10 of which came when her team was killing the penalty.
Annmarie Cellino scored with just under two minutes to play in the first period to put the Panthers up, 1-0.
In the second, Elmira's Kayla Coady connected with a high wrist-shot from the right side on the power play to tie the game.
Molly Vitt notched the Panthers' game-winning goal 4:10 into the third with a wrist shot through a screen. Elmira goaltender Allison Cubberley appeared to never have seen the puck.
It was Middlebury's first power-play goal in six chances in the game. The Panthers had the nation's top-ranked power play last season.
Elmira will play Williams in the third-place game Saturday at noon.
First period play between the Lady Cards and Ephs was a stalemate until O'Connor notched a power-play goal at 10:20.
In the second, Laurie Bowler scored another power-play goal for the Lady Cards. O'Connor assisted.
Despite the early power play success, Head Coach Kevin Houle said he thought the man-advantage was worse Friday than it has been this season. He said because Williams pressured on the penalty kill, it forced the power play into a few bad decisions.
"They're a pretty good team. I thought we played with a ton of energy and emotion and it was good to see," he said. "I thought our 5-on-5 was better and I thought our power play was worse. When you play against a team that pressures, it's not gonna be easy."
Just 56 seconds after Bowler, Worz connected on a one-timer feed from Amber Ellis. Worz was playing in her first game of the season. Earlier in the season, Houle said she was not healthy.
"It was good to see her out there. I thought she had a solid first game. Nothing spectacular, but she worked hard," Houle said. "She's pretty tenacious out there."
Steph Moon added the final PSUC goal at 15:28 of the second period on a 2-on-1 with Britt Meade. It was her second goal of the season.
The Lady Cards will face No. 3 Middlebury who upset No. 1 Elmira in the first game of the Classic. PSUC was 2-0 against the Panthers a season ago.
The two teams have played in the finals of the Classic last season and haven't seen each other since February of last season. It was the first time they did not face off the NCAA Tournament since 2006.
"I think we always get excited for Middlebury. They're an amazing team and so well-coached," O'Connor said. "It always seems to be a good game. Its a championship game its going to be that kind of atmosphere. This tournament is one of our most exciting weekends and one of our hardest ones."
The Lady Cards and Panthers square off in the championship game at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
No. 3 Middlebury upsets No. 1 Elmira
In the first game of the Panther/Cardinal Classic, No. 3 Middlebury outlasted No.1 Elmira, 2-1.
Despite being out-shot 41-22 in the game, the Panthers managed to hold off the Soaring Eagles behind 40 saves from Lexi Bloom, 10 of which came when her team was killing the penalty.
Annmarie Cellino scored with just under two minutes to play in the first period to put the Panthers up, 1-0.
In the second, Elmira's Kayla Coady connected with a high wrist-shot from the right side on the power play to tie the game.
Molly Vitt notched the Panthers' game-winning goal 4:10 into the third with a wrist shot through a screen. Elmira goaltender Allison Cubberley appeared to never have seen the puck.
It was Middlebury's first power-play goal in six chances in the game. The Panthers had the nation's top-ranked power play last season.
Elmira will play Williams in the third-place game Saturday at noon.
Be the first to comment on this story