Battle of All-Americans and Seniors

Elmira and Plattsburgh each had several players selected to the AHCA All-American teams announced at the tournament banquet on Thursday evening. There were three Soaring Eagles selected to the First Team — Edith Racine in goal, defender LeAnne Denman and forward Laura Hurd. Hurd also nabbed the AHCA Player of the Year award.

Plattsburgh goaltender Carolyne Roy topped 5,000 career minutes in tonight’s game. (Photo: Angelo Lisuzzo)

Plattsburgh only had one player selected to the First Team, defender Erin O’Brien. But the Cardinals added two onto the Second Team with goaltender Carolyne Roy and forward Elizabeth Gibson.

Both Plattsburgh and Elmira started their women’s hockey teams at the same time, in the fall of 2001, and now have their first class of seniors finishing four-year careers this weekend. The Cardinals count ten seniors on their roster, while a quick glance at the Soaring Eagles roster shows thirteen seniors.

“My seniors are a great bunch of kids,” said Plattsburgh coach Kevin Houle. “They are great hockey players, great people, and my heart goes out to every single one of them. This is such a tough game to lose, but the whole team gave it everything they had. We have been runners-up to this team, and that makes it really, really tough. I am so proud of
everything they have done and the effort they gave me over the last few years. They are a classy bunch of kids.”

In that short timespan of four seasons, these two teams have developed quite a rivalry as they both play in the ECAC West. Elmira leads the series 9-4-1, but eight of those fourteen games have been decided by one goal or less, including each of the last four contests.

“This group has more heart than any group of women I have known,” said Elmira coach Paul Nemetz-Carlson. “They have all found over the past four years what their role is. They have asked each other to be best friends. They have asked each other to be leaders. And the young women on our team have really responded. That group drives the rest of us. They have created a culture here where there is no giving up, there is no second best or second place. Everybody has a role and the only constant is that everybody wants to win the game.”

During the regular season, they split the games, each by an identical 2-1 score. That same identical score also occurred when Elmira and Plattsburgh met in the ECAC West Championship game on March 6. This time, it took 1:19 of overtime to decide it when Player of the Year Laura Hurd scored to give Elmira the 2-1 victory.

Road to the Semis

While Elmira was home last weekend enjoying a bye, Plattsburgh had to get by Bowdoin to advance to this weekend. The Cardinals came out with a jump in their step right from the opening faceoff, throwing in four goals in the opening 5:18 of the game.

Bowdoin chipped in a shorthanded goal in the first period and added two even strength goals in the second, but the Cardinals onslaught was just too much for the Polar Bears to overcome.

Plattsburgh cruised to a 9-4 victory, led by Jenn Clarke with a two goal, three assist night.

Streaks and Stats

At 13:39 of the second period, Plattsburgh goaltender Carolyne Roy surpassed the 5,000 minute mark in played minutes during her four year career.

Entering tonight’s game, Plattsburgh was 18-0-1 when they score first. They also were 19-1-1 when leading after two periods.

Elmira, on the other hand, was 3-2 when trailing after two periods, and 3-3 when the opponent scores first. These statistics certainly did not predict the outcome of the game on this night.

Plattsburgh had killed off the last 33 consecutive power plays prior to Stefanie McLean’s goal 2:20 into the third period to tie the game 2-2.

Three Soaring Eagle players came into tonight’s game having scored at least one point in every NCAA tournament game played over the last three seasons. Only one, Jaclyn O’Neil, continued that streak tonight when she scored the game winning goal at 16:37 of the third period. The others who saw their streak come to an end were Lindsay Palmer and Laura Hurd.

The Female Bobby Orr

Andrea Peterson of Gustavus Adolphus has very impressive stats – 31 goals and 29 assists for 60 points. Impressive enough to be the nation’s leading scorer in goals and points coming into the championship weekend. She also has eight power play goals.

Andrea Peterson finished as the nation’s leading scorer. (Photo: Angelo Lisuzzo)

Now consider Peterson is a defenseman and the stats become even more impressive.

As a freshman a year ago, she made a first impression by scoring 17 goals and 22 assists for 39 points. Then, as if that wasn’t impressive enough, she won the MIAC Player of the Year award.

Of course, she won that accolade again this year, but to make it even more impressive, she was the only player nominated by all the coaches for consideration. That’s just how impressed they were of the White Bear Lake High School grad.

For the icing on the cake, the Vadnais Heights, Minn. resident was just named All-American for the second year in a row.

The Golden Gusties offense is geared towards taking advantage of Peterson’s skills. They implement a cycling system where Peterson will move to empty spots whenever possible no matter how down low they may be. With an excellent defensive partner in Abby Randall, you have the luxury of allowing Peterson to be as offensive minded as she pleases.

“My defensive partner, Abby Randall, backs me up,” Peterson said. “She covers for me which allows me to move up.”

That’s not all Gustavus does to maximize Peterson as a weapon. The Gusties implement an extremely aggressive forechecking scheme resulting in turnovers and thus excellent opportunities for Peterson.

All this adds up to impressive numbers. Peterson has two more years to make those stats and her team’s success even more impressive.

Two Brothers, Two Championship Goals

The Carroll family consists of six brothers and one sister. All the men are involved in coaching while the sister is a sportscaster in St. Louis. Two of them are vying for national championships this weekend, one in Elmira and one in Middlebury, both playing against the Panthers in the semifinals.

Mike Carroll is in his sixth year as the women’s coach for Gustavus Adolphus, accumulating a record of 124-40-9. He has appeared in the national semifinals once before in 2002, losing to Elmira, 8-5, but coming back to win the consolation game over Bowdoin, 2-1.

Last year, they missed making the semifinals after a heartbreaking loss in the quarterfinals to UW-Stevens Point, 3-2, in double overtime.

Tom Carroll is the coach of the New England College men for the past three years, his first collegiate head coaching job with a record of 57-23-2. He put the Pilgrams in their first ever championship weekend with their first NCAA playoff victory last week over Manhattanville, 4-2.

“We’re pretty busy,” Mike Carroll said. “We only talked a few times. I’m very happy for him especially since his team struggled early on. We both got a shot at Middlebury. Hopefully, we can get a split.”

Mike will have to wait another year to win the elusive national championship. As of this writing, Tom will now be the one to try to coach a national championship for the Carroll family.

A Double Double?

Last year, the Middlebury women hosted the championship weekend while the men played on the road. Both got the top trophy.

This year, the men are hosting the championship weekend while the women are on the road. The women are halfway there to help their school repeat the double championship.

“Coach Beaney and I are very good friends,” Middlebury coach Bill Mandigo said. “Our offices are next to each other. Our players know each other. We support each other.”

They may also be celebrating with each other for the second year in a row.

How They Got Here

Gustavus Adolphus and Middlebury both got to the semifinals by scoring three goals in their quarterfinal wins.

The Gusties beat Stevens Point, 3-0, on the road. It was only the second win by a road team for D-III women in NCAA playoffs. Molly Doyle scored a shorthanded goal midway through the second period. Andrea Peterson scored twice in the final six minutes of the game to put it away. Peterson also assisted on the first goal. Kara Meyer registered the shutout with seven saves.

Middlebury needed overtime to get by Manhattanville in their quarterfinal match, 3-2. Emily McNamara scored at 16:31 of overtime to give the Panthers the victory. Middlebury took the lead in the first on a power play goal by Alison Graddock. Jennifer Mulick tied the game on a breakaway goal.

Manhattanville took the lead on a goal by Cherie Stewart only to see Middlebury tie it thanks to another power play score, this time by Karen Levin. Kate Kogut got the win with 35 saves.