Led by their impressive freshmen, who scored both goals, No. 2 Plattsburgh (11-1) completed a weekend sweep of No. 8 Bowdoin (2-3) with a 2-1 win. The victory follows Saturday’s 4-3 win and continues Plattsburgh’s domination of the Polar Bears in the Stafford Arena.
Valen Timmons broke a 1-1 deadlock early in the third following a scrum to the goalie’s right, flipping a shot into the high far corner of the net.
“A great goal, a hard working goal,” said Plattsburgh coach Kevin Houle. “[Timmons’ line] worked the puck down low, got to the front of the net and Valen put it in.” “We’re ranked No. 2 in the polls, but some people forget we’re playing with 12 freshmen… To show that kind of character bodes well for the rest of the season.”
Following a closely played first period that saw Bowdoin play shorthanded much of the time, the Polar Bears came out flying in the second period and outshot Plattsburgh 14-6.
Doyle was equal to the task until Bowdoin’s Sam Stewart walked out from behind the net and Katie Forney flipped the rebound up over her gloveside shoulder. The goal marked the first time Bowdoin has led a game at Stafford Arena in five contests. Plattsburgh has outscored Bowdoin 22-9 in those games, including last year’s NCAA Quarterfinal 9-4 blowout.
“Walking into the building, last year losing by a touchdown, that was our goal, to beat that fear,” said Bowdoin coach Michele Amidon
The lead proved short-lived as Plattsburgh freshman Claire O’Connor collected a turnover in center ice, made a nifty move by putting the puck between a defenseman’s legs, broke in alone, deked the goalie on her forehand and slid the puck backhand on MacEachern’s stickside.
Houle paid tribute to the hard work of the O’Connor-Samson-Timmons line: “That goal was preceded by a great shift…they kept the puck in the Bowdoin end for 45 seconds, then turned the puck over outside the blue, Claire made a great individual effort beating the D and beating the goalie.”
The goal seemed to take the lift gained from a solid period of play away from Bowdoin.
“That turned the game for us, the momentum was back in our favor,” Houle said.
Plattsburgh plays its final game of the semester at home Friday against RIT, while Bowdoin returns home to host Colby Saturday in their last game before the Christmas break.
“It’s great to play a tough opponent like Bowdoin,” Houle said. “They play the game the way it’s supposed to be played, they never quit. It was great hockey all weekend.”
