NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Plattsburgh State senior Giovanna Senese scored with 17 seconds left in the third period to lift the two-time defending national champion Cardinals to a 2-1 victory over the Norwich University women's ice hockey team in the opening game of the sixth annual East-West Hockey Classic at Kreitzberg Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Senese found a loose puck that squirted out from the half boards at the top of the slot and fired a backhand over the shoulder of NU junior goalie Celeste Robert (Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec) to break a 1-1 tie and extend Plattsburgh's unbeaten streak to nine straight games vs. Norwich. The Cardinals are 7-0-2 against Norwich in their last nine.

Norwich (0-1-0, 0-0-0 NEHC) got a goal from sophomore Nicole Goebel (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) at the 12:40 mark of the third period to knot the score at 1-1 after Plattsburgh led for a large portion of the game.

Robert did a solid job of keeping Norwich in the game, turning aside 33 shots after Plattsburgh outshot the Cadets 35-16, including a 12-5 margin in the third period.

Plattsburgh senior captain Bridget Balisy gave the Cardinals a 1-0 lead at the 18:35 mark of the first period when she roofed a rebound into the back of the net after Robert couldn't control an initial shot by Maci Hoskins. Hoskins won a puck along the boards and then sent a shot from the top of the slot that Robert kicked to the side but couldn't control and then Balisy crashed the net and roofed the puck under the cross bar for her first of the season.

Neither side scored in the second period, but the Cadets finally were able to break through after the halfway point of the third period with Goebel winning a draw to herself and then roofing a backhand under the crossbar while fighting off a Plattsburgh defender to knot the score at 1-1 for her second career goal.

However, Plattsburgh (1-0-0, 0-0-0 ECAC West) would not be denied as Senese won it with 16 seconds left off assists from Kayla Meneghin and Melissa Sheeran to clinch the victory.

Norwich will face Elmira College in the consolation game at 1 p.m. tomorrow of the East-West Hockey Classic, while Plattsburgh meets Adrian at 4 p.m. in the finals. Adrian defeated Elmira 4-1 in the other opening round matchup.