PLATTSBURGH — Plattsburgh State started the preseason with three unproven goaltenders.

Instead of one becoming the clear No. 1, two have emerged.

Mandy Mackrell and Anne Loewen both played in Sunday's exhibition win over Nepean, and coach Kevin Houle said at least for now, both will see ice time.

"They're 1 and 1A," Houle said. "So we're going into the season with that in mind. They'll share time."

Megan DiJulio notched two goals Sunday to lead the Cardinals past the Nepean Junior Wildcats 6-0.

Freshman Teal Gove flipped a backhand shot over goalie Mati Barrett's shoulder in the middle of the first period to start the Plattsburgh State scoring. Less than three minutes later, Laurie Bowler made it 2-0 from the left circle during a power play.

Kayla McDougall and DiJulio doubled the Cardinals' lead in the second. Natalie Aldridge, another freshman, tallied in the third before DiJulio finished a two-on-none with one second left.

Bowler also earned two assists for the Cardinals, who open the ECAC West season Saturday at Chatham.

"Once we got comfortable, I thought we played pretty well," Houle said. "I'd like to see a little more intensity around the net and get to the net a little more. But I thought overall it was a pretty good effort."

Mackrell started in net and turned away all four shots she faced. Loewen replaced her in the second half of the second period and made nine saves.

Mackrell, junior from Cleveland, Ohio, played two games last season and appeared in four the year before.

After being behind two-year starter Danielle Beattie, Mackrell said she's excited just to have an opportunity.

"I didn't expect anything but a chance (this season) — more of a chance than when Beattie was here," she said. "I've been waiting for it for a while, so I'm just going to work as hard as I can for it. We'll see what happens."

Mackrell, who stands 5 feet, 3 inches, said she likes to improvise in net.

"I don't really have a style. I do whatever's going to block the shot," Mackrell said. "We have butterfly goalies and hybrids, but I do whatever to stop the shot. I just try and block them all and see what happens."

Loewen, a 5-foot-7 sophomore from Winnipeg, Alberta, appeared in four games last season and recorded two shutout victories.

"My style is a butterfly goaltender," she said. "I like to play a lot on the ice. I like to come out and challenge the puck. And I'm really just all about taking it one shot at a time and controlling the rebounds."

Plattsburgh State's third goalie is junior Jen Smith, who transferred in from Providence. Smith, who's from St. Albans, Vt., was in goal for just seven minutes for the Friars last season and played in six games as a freshman.

Plattsburgh State has had played one goalie almost exclusively in recent seasons, but Houle said he's prepared to go with a tandem this year. He also said that could change if one them steps to the forefront.

Mackrell said it's been a little strange in the preseason knowing all three goalies have been vying for the job. Both she and Loewen said they've tried not to think about their competition.

"It's a tough position to come into because you know you're fighting against two other goalies. I wasn't sure what Jen was going to be like, or Mandy," Loewen said. "And I really worked hard this summer to come in and be at my peak performance, because all I can do is focus on myself. I can't focus on the other girls."

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Plattsburgh State 6, Nepean 0

Nepean000—0

Plattsburgh State222—6

First period- 1, PS, Gove (Meade, Caldwell), 12:55. 2, PS, Bowler (Buehler, Shaubel), 15:38 (pp).

Second period- 3, PS, McDougall, 2:23. 4, PS, DiJulio (Lee, Bowler), 19:38 (pp).

Third period- 5, PS, Aldridge (Giroux, Gatien), 13:58. 6, DiJulio (Moon, Bowler), 19:59.

Shots on goal:

Nepean427—13

Plattsburgh State91014—33

Power plays (goals-opportunities): Nepean 0-3; Plattsburgh State 2-4.

Goaltenders (shots-saves): Barrett, N, 33-27. Mackrell, PS, 4-4. Loewen, PS, 9-9.

Attendance: 142.

E-mail Courtney Lewis at: clewis@pressrepublican.com