PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The William Smith College ice hockey team faced its toughest test of the season this evening when it took on No. 1 Plattsburgh in ECAC West action. The top-ranked Cardinals got two goals from four different players as they topped the Herons 9-0.
Plattsburgh (14-0-0, 8-0-0) took the lead 7:41 of the first period when Courtney Moriarty scored from inside the right faceoff circle. She used a screen to beat William Smith goalie, Laurel Brown. A little under two minutes later, the Cardinals scored again when Giovanna Senese fired home a shot from the point. Plattsburgh struck twice more in the period on goals 32 seconds apart from Kayla Meneghin and Melissa Sheeran.
William Smith (4-8-2, 1-6-2) had scoring opportunities in the closing minutes of the first period. Krista Federow fired a shot from inside the slot that was redirected wide. First-year Stephanie Hampton had a couple of scoring opportunities from inside the faceoff circles as well but Camille Leonard turned aside both point blank opportunities. All three of the Herons chances came on the power play.
The Cardinals added four goals in the second period. Meneghin got her second of the game at 4:44 of the second period. A little over a minute later, Erin Brand struck for a power-play goal. Brand and Senese added their second goals of the game to extend the Plattsburgh lead.
Sheeran tacked on her second goal of the game eight minutes into the third period.
Following a successful penalty kill late in the third period, sophomore Rebecca Begley broke into the Plattsburgh zone and wristed a shot that Leonard turned aside. In the final seven minutes, William Smith doubled its shot total with some great scoring opportunities. However, the Herons were unable to solve the Cardinal goalie.
Brown made 17 saves in 25 minutes of action. Sophomore Emily Spencer came on in relief and made 24 saves for the Herons. Camille Leonard recorded 12 stops in the shutout for Plattsburgh.
The Cardinals went 2-for-5 on power play while William Smith came away empty on its three opportunities.
The Herons and Plattsburgh will be back in action tomorrow afternoon. Faceoff at the Ronald B. Safford Ice Arena is scheduled for 3 p.m.
