PLATTSBURGH — Once Plattsburgh State got on the scoreboard Tuesday night, the Cardinals not only played well, but smart.
Joey Wilson scored two goals and the Cardinals skated to a key 4-1 non-conference victory over Middlebury College at the Stafford Ice Arena.
Top-ranked Plattsburgh State improved to 15-1-2 overall, while the No. 5-ranked Panthers fell to 12-3-1.
"Middlebury is a great team and it's easy to get ready to play them," said Plattsburgh State head coach Bob Emery. "We played well tonight, played smart and got great leadership."
Bill Beaney's Panthers, however, held a 1-0 lead after one and it took the Cardinals until the 10:58 mark in the second period to tie the score.
Phil Farrow skated around the Middlebury net, appeared to look to pass the puck at first and then sent a shot inside the crossbar on the near side past Middlebury netminder John Yanchek.
Less than two minutes later, at 12:56, the Cardinals broke in on a two-on-one and Farrow sent a perfect pass to Wilson, who gave Plattsburgh State the lead for good, at 2-1.
Then, at 18:11, the Cardinals executed a nice three-way passing play from Nick Rolls to Farrow to Wilson, who scored his second goal of the contest, this one on the powerplay.
"The first goal is the hardest to get," Emery said. "But, I thought the goal that gave us the 2-1 lead was key. And, our third goal was also key."
The Cardinals then held the Panthers to three shots on goal in the third period and Riley Hill's empty-net goal at 19:05 closed out the scoring.
"What I liked the most was that in the third period, we played smart with the lead," Emery said. "We were able to get the puck in deep and were able to take time off the clock."
Middlebury, which held a 10-8 shot advantage in the first period, grabbed the early lead on Martin Drolet's goal at 7:02 of the opening stanza. Drolet skated between the slots and sent a low shot along the ice just inside the post past Cardinal netminder Bryan Hince.
"The first period was like a ping pong match — back and forth with a lot of transition," said Emery.
"But, we were then able to get the puck in deep in the second period, and we focused on not letting Middlebury get into transition because that's what they're good at."
The Cardinals ended up with a 30-23 edge in shots on goal. Both goalies played well, with Hince stopping 22 of 23 shots and Yanchek 26 of 29. It was the first loss of the season for Yanchek, a freshman, who came into the game with an 8-1 record.
Plattsburgh State also played with discipline while being whistled for only two penalties in the game — both in the third period. The Cardinals were one-of-six on the powerplay and the Panthers scoreless in two tries.
"I felt our powerplay was working well," said Emery.
The Cardinals are back in action Saturday with a 7 p.m. SUNYAC game at the Stafford Ice Arena against Morrisville.
—
Plattsburgh 4, Middlebury 1
Score by periods:
Middlebury 1 0 0 — 1
Plattsburgh 0 3 1 — 4
First period- 1, Midd, Drolet (Curran), 7:02. Penalties- Donahoe, Midd (tripping), 13:37.
Second period- 2, PSU, Farrow (Dennis, Burke), 10:58. 3, PSU, Wilson (Farrow, Dennis), 12:56. 4, PSU, Wilson ppg (Farrow, Rolls), 18:11. Penalties- Kretschmer, Midd (hooking), 1:51. Curran, Midd (tripping), 2:42. Donahoe, Midd (holding), 16:20.
Third period- 5, PSU, Hill eng (Corry), 19:05. Penalties- Donahue, Midd (slashing), :55. Rolls, PSU (slashing), 7:07. Svoboda, Midd (goaltender interference), 7:52. Willock, PSU (interference), 15:15.
Shots on goal:
Middlebury 10 10 3 — 23
Plattsburgh 8 13 9 — 30
Goaltenders (shots-saves): Yanchek, Midd, 29-26. Hince, 23-22.
Powerplays (goals-opportunities): Middlebury, 0-2. Plattsburgh 1-6.
Attendance: 1,523.
Sports
Cardinals turn back Middlebury
Top-ranked Plattsburgh State defeats Middlebury 4-1
- Local Sports
-
-
Peru wrestlers defend Section VII title
Indians grab eight champions; Saranac, NAC crown three each in the Section VII wrestling championships.
-
Eagles fall in hockey title game
Potsdam's third period goal defeats Beekmantown in the Upstate Girl's Hockey League championship.
-
Cardinals bounce back against Knights
Plattsburgh State knocks off Geneseo in SUNY Athletic Conference men's hockey.
-
PSU women win but don't get standings help
The Plattsburgh State women's hockey team beat Utica, but its chances of finishing first diminished because RIT also won.
-
Plattsburgh boys repeat in swimming
Hornets take Section VII/X swimming title, break sectional record.
-
Chiefs victorious in sectional track
Saranac captured both boys and girls Section VII track & field titles
-
Clinton weathers Mohawk's hot shooting
Cougars outduel Hawks in women's basketball; North Country rolls in second half in men's basketball.
-
Tolosky nets two, including game-winner, for Hornets
Plattsburgh falls behind Tupper Lake, but scores two in third for a boys' hockey victory; Saranac falls to Burnt Hills/Ballston Spa.
-
Marlow leads Huskies in NAC track
Franklin Academy took first in Northern Athletic Conference boys' track and field, and the girls finished second.
-
Sports Shorts: February 12, 2012
ADK chapter to hold events; Missing Children's tourney has openings; Youth Bureau to host winter program
-
Area Sports: February 12, 2012
A schedule of sports events today involving area teams and venues.
- February 11, 2012
-
Votraw's three gives Plattsburgh Div. I title
Patriots give Douglass 100th win; Peru, Ticonderoga grab wins in CVAC boys' basketball.
-
Schroon Lake takes control of MVAC's North Division
Warriors, Indians, Orange, Blue Bombers capture victories in MVAC boys' basketball
-
Beekmantown back in hockey finals
Eagles defeat Alexandria Bay in the Upstate Girls' Hockey League semifinals, will play Potsdam today for the title.
-
Brockport stuns Plattsburgh State
Cardinals give up two goals in third period to fall to Golden Eagles in men's college hockey.
-
Plattsburgh State clinches playoff berth
Cardinals defeat Potsdam for first road conference win of the season in women's college basketball.
-
Cold shooting second half dooms Cardinals
Plattsburgh State falls to Potsdam with opportunity to seal playoff berth in men's college basketball.
-
Plattsburgh State travels to Utica
Cardinals wrap up regular season schedule against Pioneers in women's college hockey.
-
Peru looks to defend Section VII title
Indians hold nine top seeds out of 15 weight classes in Section VII wrestling championships.
-
Frechette, Bradish combine for five goals in Eagles' win
Beekmantown defeats Burnt Hills/Ballston Spa in boy's hockey.
-
Yellowjackets ruin Bulldogs' perfect season
Madrid-Waddington, Chateaugay finish tied for NAC boys' basketball lead.
-
Area sports: February 11, 2012
A schedule of sports events this weekend involving area teams and venues.
- February 10, 2012
-
Cadieux earning time in net
The sophomore newcomer has been Plattsburgh State's main goalie in the second half of the season.
-
Cards can clinch playoff spot tonight
The Plattsburgh State men's basketball team visits Potsdam.
-
Peru wrestlers defend Section VII title






