The fifth-ranked Middlebury women's ice hockey team outshot #4 Plattsburgh State 38-17, but it was the Cardinals who came away with the 3-1 victory. With the win, Plattsburgh State claims its ninth Panther/Cardinal Classic Championship, and first since 2016.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• Middlebury dominated the opening period, with numerous quality opportunities to score. The first attempt came at the 17:58 mark when Kate Flynn tried to sweep a backhanded chance past goalie Lilla Nease on the left pipe, but Nease thwarted the effort.
• The Panthers threatened again with 11:32 showing on the clock. Rachel Neyman sent a pass from the defensive zone to Raia Schluter who collected the puck and skated into the zone with a head full of steam, but Schluter's bid was blockered away by Nease.
• Middlebury had a pair of chances with under 10 minutes remaining, both of which looked destined for the back of the goal. Avery McInterny redirected an initial blast by Callia Ferraris that was denied by Nease at point-blank range. Later, during a four-on-four situation, Flynn dropped a pass back to Ferraris, but Ferraris' one-time bid from the doorstep was met by a sprawling Nease to keep the game scoreless after one period of action.
• The first quality opportunity for the Cardinals came at the 9:37 mark of the middle frame. Emma McLean sent a pass to Ava Mattaliano between the circles, but Mattaliano's slap shot was denied by Middlebury netminder Sophia Will.
• The Panthers looked to get on the scoreboard with 7:19 left in the period when Cat Appleyard sent a long pass to Flynn who broke away from the defense, but Plattsburgh State's Taya Balfour latched onto Flynn denying a chance, as Balfour was called on a holding penalty. 
• Middlebury nearly scored on the ensuing power play just seconds later, but Kim's rocket from just inside the blue line at the top of the circles sent Nease sprawling to deny the chance as the teams skated into the break deadlocked at 0-0.
• The Cardinals broke through with 8:16 left in the game when Julia Masotta went bar down from the left dot to make it 1-0.
• Plattsburgh State doubled its lead with 4:22 remaining, taking advantage of a defensive breakdown. Mattaliano collected the loose puck along the right boards and sent a centering pass to Emily Kasprzak whose one-timer found nylon for the 2-0 advantage.
• After pulling its goalie, Middlebury cut the deficit in half with just under two minutes left in the contest. An initial shot by Julia Johnson floated into the slot through a pair of defenders, causing a scramble in the crease. Flynn was there to tap the loose puck into the net to make it 2-1.
• The Panthers had several chances in the waning seconds, but Plattsburgh State's Zsofia Pazmandi tallied an empty netter with 0.8 seconds left to secure the 3-1 victory.

NOTES

• Flynn's goal was the second of her career.
• This was the 18th year of the Panther/Cardinal Classic, and the eighth time the teams met in the championship.
• Plattsburgh State has won the most titles of any team, claiming its ninth this evening. 

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

• #24 Mackenzie Graham (Endicott)
• #6 Sophie Rausch (Wisconsin Eau-Claire)
• #37 Zsofia Pazmandi (Plattsburgh State)
• #31 Sophia Will (Middlebury)
• #11 Britt Nawrocki (Middlebury)
• Most Valuable Player - #31 Lilla Nease (Plattsburgh State)

Middlebury will have a chance to level the series with Plattsburgh State when the teams play again in New York on January 9. The Panthers travel to #2 Amherst this coming weekend for a two-game away series.