With just about five weeks left until the end of the regular season, every game now takes on a whole new meaning as teams begin to jockey for position in conference standings and contenders start to separate themselves from pretenders.
There was a lot of that last weekend in the women’s Division III docket.
Top-ranked Plattsbugh put up 18 goals on William Smith in a two-game sweep by scores of 9-0 Friday and 9-1 Saturday.
In the opener, Kayla Meneghin and Giovanna Senese each recorded two goals and three assists, Melissa Sheeran two goals and two assists, and Erin Brand a pair of goals for the Cardinals as Camille Leonard made 12 saves for the shutout. On Saturday, Jordan Lipson posted two goals and an assist, Melissa Ames two goals, Sheeran a goal plus two helpers and Julia Duquette and Meneghin added a goal and an assist. Kassi Abbott needed to make just eight saves for the shutout.
No doubt the Cardinals remain atop the USCHO.com Division III Women’s Poll come Monday afternoon.
No. 2 Elmira also earned a sweep, beating Neumann 6-2 and 8-0 on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
Louisa Lippiatt Durnell tallied two goals and an assist in the first win, while Kyle Nelson stopped all seven shots Sunday and Kristin Chivers scored two goals for Elmira. Rachel Grampp and McKenna Farole added a goal and two assists apiece.
Third-ranked Adrian swept Concordia (Wis.), escaping with a 4-3 win Friday before taking a 7-1 win Saturday.
Brooke Lupi had a hat trick Friday for the Bulldogs, while Christina Pattengale was sharp, making 38 saves in goal for Concordia. Saturday afternoon, Lexi Holman’s goal at 19:04 of the third period broke up Brooke Gibson’s shutout bid, but she still finished with 14 saves. Lupi with two goals and two assists, Kaylyn Schroka with two goals and three assists, and Kristin Lewicki with two goals and an assist led the Adrian offense.
Another sweep saw No. 4 St. Thomas take both from St. Mary’s in a home-and-home series.
Saturday, UST scored three unanswered goals to take a 3-1 win and then Sunday, Mackenzie Torpy made 20 saves for the win. Frani Marshall played the final 7:51 and stopped both shots she faced. Hannah Burns scored two goals for the Tommies and Kathryn Larson added a goal and two assists.
Lake Forest went into the weekend ranked fifth and will no doubt maintain that spot after winning two close games on the road at St. Scholastica, 2-1 Friday and 3-1 Saturday.
Friday, national goal-scoring leader Michelle Greeneway scored both, including the game-winner at 15:40 of the third period. Allie Carter made 19 saves for LFC and Lindsey Hartfiel also stopped 19 for the Saints. Saturday, Olivia Spellmire’s short-handed goal at 11:20 of the third stood as the winning tally. Carter made 15 saves and Hartfiel stopped 30.
No. 6 Amherst stumbled a bit at Bowdoin, losing 3-2 Friday, but regrouped for a 3-1 victory Saturday.
Ariana Bourque’s goal with seven seconds left Friday earned Bowdoin the shocking win after Eileen Harris had tied the game for Amherst at 17:38. In Saturday’s contest, Julie Dachille started the scoring for Bowdoin, but Amherst scored the next three to gain the split.
Seventh-ranked Middlebury beat both Utica and Endicott over the weekend. Katarina Shuchuk’s first goal of the season late in the second period proved to be the winner in a 2-1 win over Utica Friday and in the second game, Marisa Dreher pitched a 12-save shutout. Vendela Jonsson made 48 saves for Endicott. Katherine Jackson fired home two goals for the Panthers and Maddie Winslow added a goal and a pair of assists.
Wisconsin-River Falls, ranked eighth, did not play over the weekend, but did play two weeknight games last week, topping St. Scholastica 7-5 Tuesday and St. Benedict 11-1 on Wednesday.
No. 10 Castleton upended No. 9 Norwich 1-0 on Saturday night with Ashley Pelkey netting the lone goal of the game at 13:49 of the second period. Spartans’ goalie Jess Cameron made 39 saves in the win. Laurie King turned aside 23 for Norwich.
Norwich previously beat St. Anselm 3-2 Friday, as Erin Joyce’s second goal of the game 10:33 into the third period stood as the winner. Celsete Robert kicked out 31 shots for the win in net.
Castleton began the weekend with a 4-1 win against Plymouth State on Friday. Aimee Briand tallied two goals and an assist for the Spartans and Taylor Steadman chipped in a goal and an assist.
All in all, look for the poll to stay the same Monday, save for a possible Norwich-Castleton flip.
