By COURTNEY LEWIS
PLATTSBURGH — Middlebury's bus didn't leave for Plattsburgh until Alexi Bloom finished a biology lab.
The Panthers are probably glad they waited for the junior goaltender.
Bloom made 32 saves as No. 7 Middlebury and No. 1 Plattsburgh State skated to a 1-1 tie Tuesday at Stafford Ice Arena.
Middlebury's Heather McCormack netted the tying goal, and Laurie Bowler scored for the Cardinals (17-1-2).
The two rivals have tied in three of their last four meetings, and the all-time series stands at 7-7-3.
"We're disappointed in a tie, but obviously they're a good team that came ready to play tonight," Plattsburgh State coach Kevin Houle said. "They played a great game and took the game to us, especially early on.
"I thought we battled back and played better as the game went on."
Bloom, who shares Middlebury's goalie duties with senior Lani Wright, was named the game's first star. She turned away Stephanie Moberg on a shorthanded rush in the first period and made a good save on a hard one-timer by Bowler in the second, when Plattsburgh State held a 14-6 shot advantage but couldn't score.
"She was outstanding," Middlebury coach Bill Mandigo said. "We held the bus for her. She ran out of lab.
"She held her ground; she competed. She got run over in the first period, and then who knows if she's going to leave the ice or not. And she hung in there and battled."
Plattsburgh State's Mandy Mackrell also made some sharp saves and finished with 25.
In the second period, McCormack tipped in Anna McNally's shot for the equalizer during a power play. Heather Marrison also assisted.
Plattsburgh State had a strong power play late in that period, putting a flurry of shots on net.
Bloom slid across the crease early in the third to make a great save on a shot from just in front of the right circle. Mackrell, who stopped a puck with her face mask shortly after that, had to make two saves in the last 10 seconds of the period to keep it tied.
Middlebury held a 5-3 edge in shots in overtime. Mackrell made a pad save through traffic about 1:45 in and a kick save with a minute left. Erika Shaubel picked up the puck and skated in with 35 seconds to go but couldn't get the shot past Bloom.
"As I told our kids, I wasn't disappointed in the effort, but sometimes I was a little disappointed in our decision making out there," Houle said. "I thought we could have played smarter. I thought we gave them opportunities, especially in the end, to maybe win that game.
"Whereas I thought we had to earn everything that we got out there."
The Cardinals extended their unbeaten streak to 12 games.
In the first period, Teal Gove was whistled for bodychecking after a collision with Bloom. Houle was unhappy with the call, but the Cardinals got the advantage on the scoreboard shortly after the penalty expired. With Gove back on the ice, Bowler slid the puck under Bloom during a scramble in front. Gove and Megan DiJulio assisted.
The Panthers (13-5-2) rebounded with a strong game after being upset by Hamilton last weekend.
"We lost on Saturday; we didn't play particularly well. So there's always a little bit of, 'All right, you're going to play the No. 1 team in the country, who's gonna show up and how are you going to play?' " Mandigo said. "And I thought they battled hard, they competed and they gave a full effort."
—
Plattsburgh State 1,
Middlebury 1 (OT)
Middlebury0100—1
Plattsburgh State1000—1
First period- 1, PS, Bowler (Gove, DiJulio), 5:16.
Second period- 2, M, McCormack (McNally, Marrison), 8:24 (pp).
Shots on goal:
Middlebury7675—25
Plattsburgh State514113—33
Goaltenders (shots-saves): Bloom, M, 33-32. Mackrell, PS, 25-24.
Power plays (goals-opportunities): Middlebury 1-5; Plattsburgh State 0-4.
Attendance: 301.
E-mail Courtney Lewis at: clewis@pressrepublican.com
