PLATTSBURGH — It had been over a month since Plattsburgh State played in the friendly confines, and they were happy to be playing on home ice.
After a postponed game against Middlebury College, the Cards had to wait for the weekend to play at Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena. It would be against SUNY Morrisville (8-7, 3-5 SUNYAC), a conference opponent to open the 2024 home campaign.
It would be a good weekend for Plattsburgh State (12-2-1, 9-1 SUNYAC), who outscored Morrisville, 11-2 over the two games.
“It’s great to be back home obviously after the break and in facing a league opponent, you have to be ready to play,” PSU head coach Kevin Houle said, Friday. “Fortunately, the puck went in early for us where he would grab three to lead in the first period.
“They’re a good team that has some players that can play so we have to be ready for tomorrow.”
The Cardinals had about as perfect of a game you could ask for on Friday winning 7-1. Saturday would be a little tighter as it would take three third period goals to finalize the scoring.
Plattsburgh State remains at home for four more games. They next host Buffalo State beginning on Friday.
FRIDAY
PLATTSBURGH STATE 7
MORRISVILLE 1
It didn’t take long for Plattsburgh State to open the scoring. In less than a minute, Bridget Orr sent the puck past the keeper to get things going.
Defenders Kendal Wasik and Mattie Norton would add a goal each in the first period, as both came on power plays.
“I felt really special,” Wasik said. “I mean, I’m not a goal scorer on the team. Obviously it’s not my job, but it does feel pretty good.
“We always talk about going and getting that goal taken away from me as in Oswego. I was determined to get one today.”
The Cards were incredibly efficient on power plays as three of their first five goals came off of them. In total, they went 3/5 on the power play, Friday.
“I thought the power play was cooking,” Houle said. “There was good puck movement and everyone contributed well. We’ve been working hard on those.”
It was a day for the defenders as four of Plattsburgh’s seven goals came from them. Along with Wasik, Mattie Norton had two and Aizah Thompson scored the final goal.
After splitting two games against Oswego State to start the 2024 slate, Wasik said it’s just good to be home.
“Yeah, it was super exciting, obviously,” she said. “Playing on home ice for the first one of the 2024 and the crowd in front of us. Just getting goals playing well to be taking it to [Morrisville]. That’s what we wanted to do.”
Ciara Wall, who had a great weekend, and Ivy Boric added goals in the second period to add more breathing room for Plattsburgh State.
“It was a good game,” Ella Fesette said. “I think that we could have played a little bit better and harder on the puck sometimes but I think overall, the coaches are happy and the girls are happy with the win.
“So I think tomorrow we’ll just work even harder and harder for each other and just try to work towards our ultimate goal.”
SATURDAY
PLATTSBURGH STATE 4
MORRISVILLE 1
The game started a little differently than Friday.
Caught in a no-win situation, goalkeeper Chloe Lewis found herself in a two-on-one situation. It was inevitable that the Mustangs would crack the scorebook first.
“I felt it go off my arm,” Lewis said. “I was like it was a great shot. That’s what we did yesterday. We got the first shot for our school.
“So it was kind of tough but you have to bounce back. You can’t get down on yourself after that.”
After the goal, many teammates came up to Lewis to give support and tell her to keep her head up.
“They said things like, ‘Bounce back. It’s rough but we got you,’” she said. “It was the first shot of the game but it was a really good opportunity. (Teammates) were just like, ‘Stay in there. You have to stay positive.’ And that’s what I did. We all support each other.”
PSU wouldn’t find the equalizer until halfway through the first period, when Taya Balfour sent the puck into the net thanks to the help from Fesette and Emily Kasprzak.
It would be a grind it out type of game until the third period when Plattsburgh scored three goals in the final 11 minutes.
“I think sometimes it’s hard to win a game like (yesterday) and then come back play the same team and win big again,” Ciara Wall said. “They came out hard. They were probably mad. We kind of came up hard on them yesterday, and put a lot in the net yesterday.
“So I think that we just had a little bit of trouble scoring and just grinding it out. Sometimes you just have to do that.”
Lewis, who only faced 12 shots, found herself finding ways to stay in the game. The Cardinals maintained most of the possession and tallied 39 shots on net.
“Those are the most stressful games to play,” Lewis said. “Like not getting a lot of shots. Sometimes I’ll just do some crazy movements, like to stay warm in there.
“You never know when they’re gonna get a bounce like the first shot like that was a really good opportunity for them.”
Wall would get the go-ahead goal in the third period and Lewis said that while she knew the goals were coming. When the first did it felt as if a weight was lifted off her shoulders.
Wall made sure to share the credit.
“Bridgett Orr kind of just came around (the net) and the puck just kind of fell off her stick and landed on mine,” she said. “I probably took the worst shot of the game but it just somehow found a way in.
“It may have hit a skate or something but it went in and it was a good play by Bridget.”
Five minutes later, Ivy Boric got her second goal of the weekend with assists from Wasik and Zsofia Pazmandi.
Morrisville pulled their goalie in the final two minutes to get the extra attacker, only for Pazmandi to add an empty net goal to close out the scorebook.
“I thought this was a great first weekend back and we’re kind of at home the rest of January,” Wall said. “I’m excited to be playing home games in front of our own crowd and I just I think it was a good start for the rest of the month being at home.”
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FRIDAY
Plattsburgh State 7, Morrisville 1
PSU;3;2;2;-;7
MSC;0;0;1;-;1
First Period- 1, PSU, Orr (Wall, Urban), :35. 2, PSU, Wasik PP (Norton, Masotta), 9:07. 3, PSU, Norton PP (Masotta, Wasik), 17:35.
2nd Period- 4, PSU, Wall (Masotta, Orr), 3:59. 5. PSU, Boric PP (Thompson, Kasprzak), 6:45.
Third Period- 6, PSU, Norton (Wall, Masotta), 3:57. 7, MSC, Davidson (Couture), 12:52. 8, PSU, Thompson (Wall), 15:13.
Shots on goal- Plattsburgh, 29-14.
Saves- Jones, MSC, 2. Timby, MSC, 20. Nease, PSU, 13.
SATURDAY
Plattsburgh State 4, Morrisville 1
PSU;1;0;3;-;4
MSC;1;0;0;-;1
First Period- 1, MSC, Kalinowski, (Davidson, Bookman), 4:17. 2, PSU, Balfour (Fesette, Kasprzak), 10:28.
Third Period- 3, PSU, Wall (Orr, Wasik), 11:41. 4, PSU, Boric (Wasik, Pazmandi), 16:31. 5, PSU, Pazmandi EN (Kasprzak, Boric), 19:06.
Shots on goal- Plattsburgh, 39-12.
Saves- Plett, MSC, 38. Lewis, PSU, 11.