Courtesy Norwich Sports Information

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Despite a career-high 40 saves from sophomore goalie Emily Lambert (Riverview, Mich.), the Norwich University women’s ice hockey team was unable to score in a top-five showdown with Plattsburgh State on Wednesday night at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena.

Plattsburgh State (3-0-0, 2-0-0 NEWHL) got a shorthanded goal from Mackenzie Millen and a third-period power play goal from Annie Katonka, as well as 32 saves from Kassi Abbott en route to a 2-0 victory over the Cadets.

Special teams dominated the game with Norwich going 0-for-8 on the power play while surrendering a shorthanded goal and giving up a Plattsburgh State power play goal to account for all the scoring.

After a scoreless first period, Plattsburgh State took a 1-0 lead with a shorthanded goal by Mackenzie Millen off an assist from Courtney Moriarty. Moriarty created a neutral zone turnover and sprung Millen in on goal. Millen stickhandled past a NU defenseman in the high slot and then made a pretty deke before sliding the puck over to her left and poked the puck past Lambert with one hand before Lambet could get her right pad over for her 2nd goal of the season.

Plattsburgh State scored again in the third period after Norwich controlled the play for the first three minutes but then took a penalty that the Cardinals were able to capitalize on. Erin McAardle sent a wrist shot in from the right that was saved by Lambert but Katonka was first to the rebound and shoved the puck through the NU goalie’s five hole from the top of the crease to double the Plattsburgh State lead.

Norwich (2-2-0, 2-0-0 NEHC) had plenty of power play opportunities all night, but was never able to capitalize on their eight player-advanatge opportunities, including 46 seconds of 5-on-3 just past the midway part of the third period.

Junior forward Sophie McGovern (Hermantown, Minn.) had tough luck, ringing the puck off the post twice, including once on the 5-on-3 advantage. She also dinged the left post in the second period while the game was still scoreless.

Lambert’s previous career high save total coming into Saturday was 16 vs. New England College in her freshman season.

Norwich finally returns home to Kreitzberg Arena to play its 2018-19 home opener on Friday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. when the Cadets take on Southern Maine in NEHC action. NU will also raise its 2018 NCAA Division III National Championship banner to the rafters in a special pre-game ceremony.