Norwich's Sami Molu (37) with the body save on the Panther's shot as part of a 17-save game. It would be the return of the Great Northern Shootout this time brought to you by Layer Eight and the opening game of the tournament would see the battle of Vermont as the #11 Norwich Cadets would take on instate rival the Middlebury Panthers at the Ronald B Stafford Ice Arena. The game would start off well for the Cadets as they would get the early 1-0 lead just eight minutes into the game on Holden Doggett's goal. Then inside the final two minutes of the period, the Cadets would extend their lead to 2-0 on the Brady Harroun goal. The Cadets would start to take control of the game as they would extend the lead to 3-0 on the powerplay goal six minutes into the second period on the Cooper Bertrand goal. The Panthers would answer right back 17 seconds later on the goal from Andrej Hromic to get the game back to a two-goal game at 3-1. The Cadets would retake the three-goal lead with just over two minutes left in the period on the Patrick O'Neal powerplay goal to make it a 4-1 game. In the third period, the Cadets would seal the game away on three unanswered goals from Clark Kerner, Joe Nagle, and Devon Thibodeau as they would secure the 7-1 win. In the winning effort, Sami Molu would make 17 saves as they go to 5-2-1 on the season and will take on the winner of the Plattsburgh State Cardinals and the St Olaf Oels in the championship of the Great Northern Shootout. Gallery.

Middlebury's Nolan Moore (5) with the body check on the Cadets attacker as they go after the puck along the boards. Gallery.

Plattsburgh State's Julia Masotta scored the game-winner with 1:37 left in overtime on the 3x3. It would be the classic women's hockey rivalry, as the Plattsburgh State Cardinals would host the Norwich Cadets this time, with added stakes, as both were ranked in the top ten in the early stages of the season. The Cadets of Norwich would get the scoring started with 8 minutes left in the first period on the Morgan Tefft goal and the 1-0 lead. That is where the game would stay until the 1:49 mark of the second period, when the Cardinals' Mae Olshansky scored. Then, just about 90 seconds left in the period, on the Nicole Unsworth goal in the second period, and the 2-1 lead. That is where the game would stay until we hit the 9:12 mark of the second period, when the Cadets tied the game on Taylor Girouard's goal. That is where the game would stay until there were 2:53 left in the game, when Sara Krauseneck went to the Cardinals, who took the 3-2. Then the Cadets would score two goals in 28 seconds, including goals by Nikki LaGue and Taylor Girouard, and take a 4-3 lead with two minutes left in the game. While the Cardinals were on the penalty kill, they pulled the goalie, and with 19 seconds left, Mattie Norton scored to tie the game at four. In that overtime frame, Plattsburgh from Norwich Cadet would get the game winner with just over 90 seconds left. In thewinningg effort,t the Cardinals would take the 5-4 win. In the winning effort, the Cardinals go to 5-0 while the Golden Knights fall to 5-4, sending just over 350 fans next weekend for the Cardinals' home stand, as they play Buffalo State and Morrisville Mustangs. Gallery.

Plattsburgh State's Ivy Boric (19) is on the doorstep looking to get the equalizer late in the game. Gallery

Plattsburgh State's Nick Cergol (50) with the fire across the diamond to get the runner at first for the out. The Plattsburgh State Cardinals would host the Norwich Cadets in nonleague action at Chip Cummings Field. The game would remain scoreless until the third inning when the home cardinals would explode for four runs led by Messersch's 2 rbi double to give them the 4-0 lead. The Cardinals would come back in the fourth with another two runs led by Reily's RBI double as the Cardinals take a 6-0 lead. The Cardinals would keep the bats going in the fifth inning on the single run by Veit's rbi single to center to take the 7-0 lead. The Cardinal's offense would come to end in the sixth inning with another two runs on a 2 rbi single by Messerch to make it a 9-0 game. The Cadets would break the ice in the seventh with a single run there and another in the ninth inning. Although it would not be enough as the Cardinals would get the 9-2 win and go to 11-12 on the season. Leading the way for the Cardinals on the mound would be Ryan Lawyer as he goes six innings and scattered five hits while giving up one run and striking out six. Meanwhile, at the plate, the Cardinals would have a great outing by Steve Messerschmitt as he would have 2 hits and 4 RBIs on the day. Next for the Cardinals would be home non-league against St. Lawerence Saints on April 20th. Gallery

Norwich's Michael Koytikh (18) with the sweep tag on Plattsburgh State's Mike Rasquin (7) as he was attempting to steal third on the double steal. Gallery

Plattsburgh State's Maddy Garcia (5) charges to the net for one of her two goals on the afternoon. The Plattsburgh State Cardinals would open up the home portion of their season as they would battle in a nonleague game against the Norwich Cadets. The game would start off good for the home Cardinals as they would jump out to a 5-1 at the end of the first quarter on goals from Emily Caoili, Caroline Noia (three), Lindsay Guzzetta. In the second quarter, the Cardinals would add three more from Caroline Noia (fourth), Emily Caoili (twice), and Maddy Garcia and take the 8-1 lead into the break. When the teams came back for the third quarter the Cardinal offense would stay hot as they would add six goals from Caroline Noia (fifth), Caitlin Nash (third), Lindsay Guzzetta (second), and Fiona Fitzgerald as they soar to 14-3 lead as they entered the fourth quarter the Cardinals would add three more from Emily Caoili (third), Davina Gyedu, and Maddy Garcia (twice) as the Cardinals secure the 17-5 win an get there record back to 1-1 on the season. Gallery

Plattsburgh State's Emily Caoili (7) and Allison Sturgeon (14) collide as the Cadets are trying to tack the ball out of the zone. Gallery

Plattsburgh graduate student defenseman Erin McArdle positions herself to restrict Norwich senior defenseman Emma O’Neill to the outside as she skates through the neutral zone in the third period of the Championship game of the 11th Northfield Savings Bank East-West Classic at Norwich’s Kreitzberg Arena. For the sixth time in the 11-year history of the Northfield Savings Bank East-West Classic, the Cardinals of Plattsburgh State lifted the championship plaque at Norwich University’s Kreitzberg Arena, with a 2-1 win over the host Cadets.
The Cardinals came out strong in the first period, but the Cadets were able to answer that intensity, as Plattsburgh led shots in the opening period 12-7. The opening goal of the game, though, would come on an individual effort from Plattsburgh sophomore forward Mae Olshansky.
As Norwich looked to clear their defensive zone, Olshansky intercepted the breakout pass. Despite falling on the play, Olshansky was able to elevate the puck with a backhanded shot from her knees to beat Norwich senior goaltender Alexa Berg.
Norwich brought more fights to the second period, leading shots in the back-and-forth frame 12-10. The Cadets tied the game at 7:30 of the second period as junior forward Mikah Baptiste sent the puck low through heavy traffic to beat Plattsburgh junior goaltender Chloe Beaubien.
The Cardinals regained their lead before the second intermission as the rebound off a shot from senior defenseman Sierra Benjamin fell to Olshansky, who passed to graduate student forward Kaitlin Drew-Mead at the backdoor for the tap-in goal.
Drew-Mead’s tally proved to be the game-winner, as Plattsburgh controlled possession in the third period, leading shots 17-6.
Beaubien stopped 24 of the 25 shots she faced for the win in net for Plattsburgh, while Berg tied her career-high 37 saves on 39 shots in the loss.
As Plattsburgh celebrated its sixth championship in their nine years competing in this tournament, Plattsburgh forwards Annie Katonka and Olshanksy joined Elmira’s Morgan Mordini, Adrian’s Jocelin Hudanish, and Norwich's Morgan Tefft and Berg on the All-Tournament Team. Beaubien was named tournament MVP, record two wins, and stopped 53 of the 55 shots she faced on the weekend.
Gallery.

Plattsburgh graduate student Kaitlin Drew-Mead celebrates the go-ahead goal against Norwich University in the championship game of the 11th Northfield Savings Bank East-West Classic at Norwich’s Kreitzberg Arena Gallery.