Cards set for ECAC ice showdown

Sports

Related Photos

Discussion

PLEASE NOTE: There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.

ALSO NOTE: Derisive name-calling of an individual or group will result in the entire comment being deleted. This includes the terms "stupid" and "idiot" and similar references.

Welcome to our new online comments feature. Before you can join the discussion, you must first register with Disqus and verify your email address.

Once you do, your comments will post after they have been reviewed by a moderator.

We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean.

Not all comments are deemed printable. Some are disqualified, at the newspaper’s discretion, for a number of reasons. Here are some typical practices to avoid in trying to get your comment printed:

There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.

Don’t state as a fact something that is unsubstantiated or that our editors wouldn't know to be true.

Don’t presume someone’s guilt in a case when it hasn't been established by a court.

Don’t assail or impugn an identifiable individual or group. If you have that kind of criticism, sign your name and submit it as a Letter to the Editor. (There is some leeway on this in connection with public officials, but it is not unconditional.)

Don’t use profanity. This includes the term “tea bagger.”

Don’t be incendiary or tasteless. Those qualities are subjective, of course, and our editors will be the arbiters.

Do not identify yourself in the main content area of the article content form. Only by enforcing this rule can the moderators prevent unscrupulous commenters from falsely identifying themselves as someone they are not.

Don't type in all caps. It is considered the Internet equivalent of shouting.

In sports articles, do not criticize officiating.

Remember, moderators are not allowed to edit any article comments. If an article comment fails any of the above criteria, the entire comment will be deleted.

We monitor comments Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Approval of comments outside these times may be delayed.

comments powered by Disqus

January 28, 2012

Houle's team has momentum for ECAC showdown

JOHN CORYER Press-Republican The Press Republican Sat Jan 28, 2012, 06:23 AM EST

PLATTSBURGH — It's a more confident Plattsburgh State women's hockey team that hits the road for a key ECAC West showdown this weekend.

The Cardinals are at Elmira College at 3 p.m. today and 3 p.m. Sunday, with first place in the conference on the line.

Plattsburgh State currently leads a three-way battle at the top of the ECAC West standings with a 10-0-2 record (22 points), followed in second by RIT at 10-1-1 (21 points) and in third by Elmira at 10-0-0 (20 points). The Soaring Eagles, however, are undefeated and untied thus far in the conference while having two games in hand over the Cardinals and Tigers.

Elmira and RIT, who the Cardinals tied and beat on Jan. 13 and 14, still have to play a home-and-home set on Feb. 10-11.

"Our weekend at home against RIT was huge for us," Plattsburgh State head coach Kevin Houle said. "We then couldn't afford to stumble at Oswego last weekend — and we made sure we didn't.

"We're going to build off that and it's going to be another huge weekend for us. I don't want our team to get too wrapped up about it and feel nervous about it. But, there is a lot at stake for both teams."

The Cardinals, coming off 5-0 and 6-0 conferences wins at Oswego State, will have four ECAC West games remaining after this weekend — two each against Cortland State and Utica College.

"We have confidence we will play well this weekend," Houle said. "Obviously, we have more confidence than we did earlier in the season."

Elmira is 15-1-1 overall and currently ranked No. 3 in the country in Division III. RIT is No. 2 and Plattsburgh State No. 6.

The Soaring Eagles, who have outscored their opposition by a 90-18 margin, are unbeaten in their last 16 games and have won nine in a row.

"Elmira and RIT are different teams," Houle said. "RIT has a ton of firepower, but Elmira arguably has the best player in Division III women's hockey up front. They also play very well defensively.

"We need to be prepared and focused — and maybe catch a break here or there, which never hurts in a big game."

Elmira, earlier in the season, captured the Cardinal/Panther Classic at the Stafford Ice Arena with a 3-1 victory over Amherst in the championship game. In the opening round, the Soaring Eagles and Middlebury College played to a 0-0 overtime tie before Elmira won in a shootout to advance.

"They (Elmira) were the best team in the tournament that weekend," Houle said. "They've won games on the road and at home, and haven't lost in a long time."

Lindsay Mitchell (8-16-24) and Tori Charron (14-8-22) are the leading scorers for Elmira.

"Both teams control their own destiny in the conference," Houle said. "But, there is still a lot of hockey to be played."