Middlebury's Audrey Lazar with the opening goal of the game to give the Panthers the 1-0 lead. It would be time to start the NCAA Division III Women's Hockey Tournament again from the Ronald B Stafford Ice Arena as the #4 Plattsburgh State Cardinals would host the #6 Middlebury Panthers as the classic rivals would meet again with a ticket to the final four on the line in front of 900 passionate fans. The visiting Panthers would get the opening goal of the first period just over the halfway mark of the first period and take the 1-0 lead on the Audrey Lazar goal. The game would stay there till the 7:32 mark of the second period when the Panthers would double their lead to 2-0 on the Kate Flynn goal. From there defense would be the main course on the menu as it would be the only two goals on the day but it would not be without some great effort by the Cardinals to try and get back in the game. In the winning effort for the Panthers, Sophia Will would make 30 saves for the shutout victory. As for the Cardinals Lilla Nease would do her best stopping 15 of 17 on the day but the Cardinals would fall short of the final four for the first time since the 2011 season as their season comes to an end at 22-5-1. Gallery

Plattsburgh State's Lilla Nease (31) squares up for the save on the Panther's breakaway attempt as part of a 15-save effort. Gallery

Plattsburgh State's Lilla Nease (31) with the save on the pads as part of a 20-save performance in the winning effort. It would be a nonconference battle within the top ten of the country in women's hockey as the #3 Plattsburgh State Cardinals would host the #6 Middlebury Panthers at the Ronald Stafford Ice Arena in front of 350 fans in a midweek tilt. The game would be very tight through the first period both teams would have their chances to get on the board but the scoreboard would still be blank after the end of the period. In the second period, it would start the same. The Cardinals would break through and get the opening goal of the game at the 4:54 mark of the second period on a goal from Zsofia Pazmandi for the 1-0 lead. The game would stay there till the last 100 seconds of the period when the Cardinals would take the 2-0 lead on the Ivy Boric goal. The Panthers would answer right back a minute later and get the game back within one on the Molly McQueen goal to make it a 2-1 game. In the winning effort for the Cardinals Lilla Nease would make 20 saves for the win as they go to 15-2-1 on the season and will be back in action at home this Saturday against Williams College. Gallery

Plattsburgh State's Ella Fessette (15) and Middlebury's Julia Johnson (21) battle for the puck and positioning along the dasher boards. Gallery