PLATTSBURGH, N.Y.- The ninth ranked Norwich University Women’s Ice Hockey team lost a back-and-forth heavyweight battle to third ranked Plattsburgh State 5-4 at Stafford Ice Arena Tuesday night.

The Cadets drew first blood not long after the halfway mark of the opening frame with a goal by graduate student Morgan Tefft(Redwood City, Calif.) where junior Melianne Reynolds(Sherbrooke, Que.) tallied the first of three assists on the night.

Norwich would take the lead into the first intermission, but it did not last long after that as the Cardinals struck for two goals in 2:17 to begin the second period. The Cadets would eventually respond with a tally by sophomore Taylor Girouard (Burlington, Mass) to make it a tie game going into the second intermission.

The score remained 2-2 for a majority of the third period until the two sides would combine for four goals in the final three minutes. Firstly, Plattsburgh took the lead on a goal by Sarah Krauseneck (Saginaw, Mich.). 25 seconds later junior Nikki LaGue (Barre, Vt.) would tie the game and 28 seconds after that Girouard scored her second of the game to give the Cadets a 4-3 lead with two minutes remaining in regulation. However, with 18 seconds to play Mattie Norton (Glen Carbon, Ill.) would tally a shorthanded goal to send the game to overtime.

Roughly three and a half minutes into the 3-on-3 extra frame the Cardinals tallied the winning goal courtesy of senior Julia Masotta(Tewksbury, Mass.).

“I loved the way we competed against one of the best teams in the nation.” Head Coach Sophie Leclerc Doherty said after the game. “[Junior Leocadia Clark (Stowe, Vt.)] kept us in it and gave us a chance, and our group showed incredible resiliency to come from behind twice.” Clark stopped 47 out of 52 shots faced with Norwich being outshot 52-22.

The Cadets will look to get back on the winning track when they play host to Johnson & Wales Wednesday November 30. Puck drop is set for 4 PM at Kreitzberg Arena.