PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — Endicott freshman center Samantha Fantasia (Billerica, Mass.) potted the game-winner with 34-seconds remaining in overtime to lift the No. 9 nationally ranked Gulls over No. 1 Plattsburgh, 4-3, on Saturday night at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena.
With the win, Endicott earned its first-ever victory over a No. 1 nationally ranked opponent (first-ever try).
The Gulls also snapped Plattsburgh's NCAA Division III women's ice hockey record home winning streak of 44 games and the Cardinals' 24-game winning streak, which dated back to 12/1/2019.
Trailing 3-1 in the second period, Endicott scored three unanswered goals to come away with the eventual victory.
Kaylee Liberty (Arlington Heights, Ill.) made it 3-2 with a power play tally at 13:25 of the second, while Quin Healy (Melrose, Mass.) forced overtime with her second goal of the game at 10:20 of the third.
From there, Michaela O'Brien (Pembroke, Mass.) made 17 saves before Fantasia whistled a wrister top-shelf over the blocker of Plattsburgh's goalie on a breakaway to complete the comeback.
O'Brien finished the matchup with a program record 56 saves (5-0-0 overall).
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Endicott is 1-1-0 versus Plattsburgh in the all-time series (first-ever regular season meeting).
- Fantasia netted her first career game-winner.
- The Gulls trailed 1-0 (10:59 — first), 2-1 (9:28 — second), and 3-1 (10:12 — second) in the contest.
- Plattsburgh surrendered a season-high four goals (six shutouts in 2021-22).
- The Cardinals have not allowed three or more goals in a game since January 5, 2020 (6-3 win vs. No. 3 Norwich).
- Plattsburgh has been ranked No. 1 overall in the USCHO.com poll for 23 consecutive weeks.
- The Cardinals are the defending NCAA Division III champions (seven titles in program history).
WHAT'S NEXT
No. 9 Endicott (7-1-0) will play the winner of No. 2 Middlebury and No. 5 Elmira in the championship of the Cardinal/Panther Classic tomorrow at 5 PM. No. 1 Plattsburgh (6-1-0) will host the loser between Middlebury/Elmira in the consolation game tomorrow at 2 PM.
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(Photo Credit - David Le '10)
