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By COURTNEY LEWIS
PLATTSBURGH — After losing seven very accomplished seniors, Plattsburgh State brought in nine freshmen this season and has had upperclassmen stepping into bigger roles and skating with new linemates.
But from early on, all those pieces have fit together well.
"I think we have great chemistry, especially this year as opposed to some other years," senior co-captain Stephanie Moberg said. "I think we all click pretty well both on and off the ice, which makes for an interesting season.
"We're just having fun right now."
Steph Moon, a junior, said the Cardinals have gotten along in the past, but this year they've jelled particularly well.
The Cardinals (15-1-1, 12-0-1 ECAC West) start a five-game home stretch by hosting Cortland today and Saturday.
Plattsburgh State reclaimed the top spot in the USCHO.com Division III Women's Poll this week and is the only one-loss team in the country. It's currently on a nation-leading nine-game unbeaten streak.
Moon said the Cardinals have been united by a desire to prove some skeptics wrong.
"Some people thought we weren't going to be good in the beginning," Moon said. "So it's like we want to show people that we actually are serious, that we're still the team we've been in years past. We're still just as good."
This year's team doesn't really feature one or two standout stars, so it has stayed in the top tier by getting contributions from everyone. While Moberg ranks third in the country in scoring, Megan DiJulio is five points behind her and eight other players — including freshmen Jordan Caldwell and Teal Gove — have at least 10 points.
DiJulio was named ECAC West co-Player of the Week on Monday, and Caldwell was chosen Rookie of the Week, giving Plattsburgh State six different players who have received weekly awards this season.
"Obviously we didn't have a lot of leaders left over from last year. We had Moberg and (Laurie) Bowler, and they've taken on new (linemates). The third line has two freshmen, but they've kind of taken a role right onto the team quick.
"People aren't as much worried about class and all that, as just everyone's a part of the team and we're trying to have respect for everyone. There's no intimidation on our team this year, as there may have been in the past."
While the Cardinals didn't put together a long winning streak last year until well into the second half, this season the only bumps in the road have been a loss to Amherst and a tie with Utica. They also took all eight points from their top conference rivals — Elmira and RIT — for the first time.
After playing in three straight national title games, last season's bitter ending — a first-round NCAA tournament loss at Amherst — served as a reminder of the importance of everybody buying in and staying focused all year.
"It might have been like just because we're Plattsburgh State doesn't mean we're going to win or even get into the final four every year," Moon said. "Maybe a reminder that it takes effort and skill, not just skill."
This year's group is about a month away from the playoffs. Plattsburgh State has five ECAC West contests left, plus three nonconference games next week.
When the Red Dragons (4-13-1, 3-8-1) visit Stafford Ice Arena this weekend, they'll bring several North Country players with them. Senior Erin Farmer skated for Saranac Lake, freshman Taylor Puckhaber is a Lake Placid native and junior Mallorie Maguire is from Potsdam.
"We just want to get four points and keep working on the things we have been — keep moving the puck well and making smart plays and smart decisions," Moberg said. "Set the tone now for the playoffs."
E-mail Courtney Lewis at: clewis@pressrepublican.com
