Winning a Division III National Championship is a dream that most college athletes never have the chance to achieve. Coming in and doing it as a freshman is a dream that Plattsburgh State women’s hockey player Jordan Lipson was able to accomplish.
Hailing from Davis, California, Lipson always had a knack for the sport of hockey. Staring at the age of 4, Lipson made the transition from roller hockey to ice hockey, and she certainly does not regret it.
Growing up in a small town where hockey was not popular, she experimented with sports such as soccer and baseball as a kid but realized that she wanted a future on the ice.
“I just always had a knack for hockey,” Lipson said. ”During high school, I tried other sports, but hockey has always been my number one.”
Lipson made the voyage across the country to attend Pomfret School in Connecticut, where she would eventually meet PSUC head coach Kevin Houle. With offers from schools including the University of Connecticut, Elmira and Manhattanville, Lipson made the decision to go to PSUC.
“I really liked what Coach had to say about the program, and they had my major,” Lipson said. “I just got really excited when Coach talked to me when I visited the school.”
In her freshman campaign, Lipson established herself as a productive player. In her 25 games played in PSUC’s championship season, the freshman tallied eight points, including three goals and five assists. All of Lipson’s points were scored during conference games. Assistant captain Shannon Stewart said she is pleased with the impact the Lipson has had on the program.
“She’s been a really good player here,” Stewart said. “She’s been standing out a lot and she’s been getting some really big opportunities and taking advantage of them.”
Entering her sophomore year this season, Lipson has stepped into a huge role for the Cards with the loss of some seniors. Houle said he needs his underclassmen to produce with the voids left by the departures.
“She’s played a bigger role in this year’s team than last year,” Houle said. “She’s playing on our top line and doing a very good job at this point in time.”
Lipson said she has adjusted well in her time at PSUC and definitely enjoys it up here despite the climate change.
This season, Lipson has already established herself as a top-notch player. Throughout the Cards’ first four games, she has already racked up two goals and an assist. In a game against Manhattanville, the sophomore scored a short-handed goal for her first of the season. In the team’s following game against Norwich, Lipson knocked in the Cards’ lone goal, which would eventually be equalized by the Cadets.
Freshman Melissa Sheeran said Lipson is an outgoing and funny person who is always working hard on and off the ice. She also sees her as a role model.
“As an incoming freshman, I kind of look up to her a lot because she is taking a huge role as a sophomore being on the top line,” Sheeran said. “She came into this year and has done a fabulous job.”
Houle said Lipson has all of the skills and tools to be a good player here. He said he sees her as a player who will continue to get better this year and in the years to come.
“She has all of the talents and all of the tools,” Houle said. “She can skate, pass, shoot and stick-handle.”
Lipson said she is happy with her decision at PSUC and looks forward to the remainder of the season and her career with the Cards.
“We’re definitely a different team this year,” Lipson said. “We lost a good amount of seniors, but we gained a lot of talent with the new freshmen and their definitely going to play a role this year, and we’re going to do well.”
Email Alex Reynolds at alex.reynolds@cardinalpointsonline.com.
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