Box Score PLATTSBURGH, NY – The #1 Plattsburgh Cardinals handed the Valiants women's hockey team their sixth loss of the season on Saturday.  Falling by a score of 4-1, Manhattanville was unable to sustain much pressure against the top-ranked Cardinals.

Throughout the first period pressure was dominated by the Cardinals as they controlled the puck and kept it deep in the Manhattanville end.  The Valiants were able to get pressure intermittently as they used their breakout to create some space and odd-man rushes throughout the game. Freshman goaltender Dana DeMartino (Massapequa Park, N.Y. /Massapequa ) was busy in net, she turned away nearly every shot in the period.  The lone goal of the period coming off the stick of Plattsburgh's junior forward Shannon Stewart as she capitalized on a Valiants turnover in front of the net and buried the puck past DeMartino.

Coming out of the intermission down by a goal, the Valiants looked to get themselves back in the game.  The Cardinals had different plans in mind as they scored quickly at the 18:17 mark of the second period, the goal this time coming off the stick of sophomore forward Bridget Balisy. 

The Valiants pulled off a feat that only one other team has done this year, and that is scoring a goal on Plattsburgh's senior goaltender Sydney Aveson.  Junior forward Alla Traun (Edina, Minn./Minnesota Thoroughbreds (JWHL)) rifled the puck past Aveson after some beautiful one-two passing between fellow junior linemates Sydney Asselstine (Hartington, Ontario/Nepean Wildcats (PWHL)) and Michelle Meggiolaro found Traun open in front of the net, Traun wasted no time and sniped a puck upstairs to cut the deficit to 2-1 with 16:25 remaining in the second period.

The Valiants were able to sustain pressure in the offensive zone following that goal.  However all of the pressure didn't amount to much.  The Valiants finished the game with only with just 11 shots on goal compared to the Cardinals 38 shots registered on DeMartino. 

Plattsburgh State was able to capitalize on another Valiant turnover in front of their net and slid the puck past DeMartino with only 1:38 remaining in the second period, making the score 3-1.  The Cardinals were able to add another goal in the third period for good measure to make the game 4-1, and that is how it would end.

The Valiants need to regroup quickly as they take on a very good Utica squad who is riding an 8-game win-streak into their matchup with Norwich Saturday night.