GENEVA, N.Y.- The William Smith College ice hockey team was edged by No. 1 Plattsburgh 2-1 in the ECAC West opener at the Cooler this afternoon. Junior goalie Maggie Salmon turned in a strong performance in the goal for the Herons, stopping 52 shots.
William Smith (2-1-0) took an early 1-0 lead off a power play goal by sophomore Stephanie Hampton. Hampton flipped a shot into the upper right corner of the goal over the left shoulder of Plattsburgh goalie Camille Leonard. Krista Federow and sophomore Maura Mulligan were credited with assists on Hampton’s first goal of the season. This was the first time in five meetings that William Smith had taken a lead against the Cardinals.
Plattsburgh (1-0-0) leveled the score with one minute remaining in the opening period. Erin Brand fired a shot from the point that trickled through Salmon’s pads and into the back of the net. The power play goal was assisted by Kayla Meneghin and Julia Duquette. The Cardinals entered the first intermission with a 19-3 edge in shots.
Plattsburgh pushed in front at 13:17 of the second period. Jordan Lipson deposited a power play goal behind Salmon. Lipson’s wrist shot from inside the right faceoff circle went over Salmon’s left shoulder into the upper right corner of the goal. Brand was credited with an assist to finish with a game-high two points.
Salmon took over, stopping the final 18 shots she faced. With two minutes left in the game, Head Coach Jaime Totten pulled Salmon in favor of an extra attacker. Sophomore Egan Sachs-Hecht and first-year Taylor Morash each had opportunities to tie the game in the final minute, but both shots were turned aside by Leonard. The Cardinals had two shots at the empty Heron net. Courtney Moriarty rang one off the left post and Katelyn Turk had a shot blocked by Laura Rollins, one of 21 that William Smith blocked in the game.
Salmon turned aside 52 of the 54 shots she faced in 58 minutes of action. Leonard stopped 15 shots in 60 minutes of action in the Plattsburgh goal.
All three of the game’s goals came on the power play. The Herons were 1-4 with the extra skater, while the Cardinals scored twice in seven attempts.
William Smith and Plattsburgh will be back in action tomorrow at The Cooler. Faceoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.
