With the Thanksgiving holiday this past weekend, the schedule was a bit light for D-III women, but the action sure wasn’t.
The Cardinal/Panther Classic at Middlebury had three ranked teams taking part, and the event lived up to its name as a classic indeed.
In the opening game Friday, No. 2 Elmira knocked off No. 3 Middlebury, 3-1. After spotting the Panthers a 1-0 lead after one period, Elmira roared back to score three unanswered. Kelcey Crawford made 18 saves for the Soaring Eagles, while Marisa Dreher stopped 17 for Middlebury.
Saturday afternoon, top-ranked Plattsburgh handled Wisconsin-Stevens Point 5-1 on Melissa Sheeran’s two goals and an assist and Camille Leonard’s 30 saves in net. Giovanna Senese added a goal and three helpers for the Cardinals.
In the second contest Saturday, Elmira edged No. 9 Gustavus Adolphus, 2-1. Olivia Nystrom’s goal at 1:37 of the third period proved to be the game-winner. Kyle Nelson made 23 saves in the Elmira net.
Sunday’s games in the Cardinal/Panther Classic saw Middlebury tip Stevens Point 3-1 and Plattsburgh beat GAC by a 5-3 count.
Jessica Young had a goal and an assist in Middlebury’s win and Julia Neuburger fashioned a 20-save outing in the Panthers’ crease.
For Plattsburgh, a four-goal third period gave the Cardinals the win after being down 3-1 through two periods. Kayla Meneghin scored two for Plattsburgh and Sheeran added a goal and an assist to back Leonard’s 19 saves.
Also on Sunday, Connecticut College put 54 shots on Johnson and Wales goalies Kami Weiner and Chelsey Shaw in a 10-0 win. Elena Gualtieri scored twice with three assists and goalie Bailey Mertz needed to make just 12 saves to take the shutout.
Seven different players scored in the University of New England’s 8-0 whitewash of Salem State on Sunday. Carly Perreault scored twice and all three UNE goalies — Samantha Scobee, Sydney Helmbrecht and Giana Rifici — saw time in goal.
No. 10 Castleton, the only other ranked team in action over the weekend, blanked Williams 2-0 on Sunday as Jess Cameron stopped 46 shots in gaining the win. Williams outshot Castleton 46-17.
Casey Stathopoulos recorded two goals and two assists in Sacred Heart’s 7-2 win over Morrisville on Saturday.
Two overtime heroines to note this weekend, as Kaitlyn Perrins’ goal 1:29 in gave Chatham a 1-0 win over Becker on Sunday and on Saturday, Jillian Kosteck scored at 3:37 of extra time to complete St. Norbert’s 3-2 comeback over St. Mary’s. Lexi Pyykkonen tied the game at 15:13 of the third period for SNC. St. Mary’s goalie Ashley Corcoran was on fire in making 42 saves.
