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
-
-
Former Seton Catholic standout Hartung headed to NCAAs
Former Seton Catholic standout Genna Hartung qualified for the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships as a member of the Cornell team.
-
Cards sweep, throw no-hitter in CVBL action
The Fourth Ward Cardinals swept the Lyon Mountain Miners, and in one game threw a no-hitter in CVBL play; A's and Expos, T'jaxx and Padres split games.
-
Peru's Bushey, Forget win wrestling titles
Peru's Jordan Bushey and Nick Forget, representing the Cellar Dwellers Wrestling Club, recently won their weight classes at the New York State Greco-Roman and Freestyle Championships.
-
MVAC announces 2012 winter scholar athletes
The Mountain and Valley Athletic Conference announced scholar athletes for the 2012 winter sports season.
-
Saranac boys win fourth straight Section VII track and field title
Saranac used depth and skill to win its fourth straight Section VII boys' track and field title.
-
Eagles end Saranac's five-year Section VII track reign
Saranac won the last five Section VII girls' track and field championships, but on Saturday Beekmantown ended the dynasty.
-
Bissonette, Higgins capture Section VII tennis titles
Shawn Bissonette and Abby Higgins captured Section VII singles titles in tennis, while the duos of Alex Jelinek/Nick Stosiek and Alexandra Provost and Bailey Waterbury won doubles titles.
-
Expos off to fast CVBL start
Meron's Expos enter today's CVBL games as the only unbeaten team left in the league.
-
Robinson, Planck continue early Mohawk success
Dale Planck and Mathieu Robinson continued their hot starts at Mohawk International Speedway Friday night.
-
Labatt Blue holds first place in ADK Slo-Pitch
Perennial A Division power Labatt Blue has taken over sole possession of first place in the Adirondack Slo-Pitch Softball League with a 7-1 record.
-
McClatchie wins Renegade feature, new recliner
Jason McClatchie won the 50-lap Renegade feature and earned himself a new reclinder in the process at Airborne Speedway.
-
Downhill cyclists gear up for Whiteface 5K
-
Sports shorts: May 27, 2012
Ameri-Can North spring games this week; The Barracks Member Scramble today; Adirondack to hold ladies' league and more.
-
Area sports: May 27, 2012
A schedule of sports events today featuring local teams and venues.
- May 26, 2012
-
Votraw nabs Sec. 7 golf crown
Plattsburgh High's Ethan Votraw won the Section VII Golf Championships, with last year's winner, AuSable Valley's John Hickey, taking second.
-
Emma, Claire Deshaies share sisterly bond on PHS track team
Sisters Emma and Claire Deshaies, a senior and eighth grader, respectively, have enjoyed the opportunity to be teammates on the PHS track and field team. INCLUDES VIDEO
-
Section VII Track and Field Championships today
The Section VII Track and Field Championships will be held today in Lake Placid.
-
Hornets edged Red Storm in 'B' quarters
The Section VII baseball tournament got started Friday. PHS, NCCC and B'town won in Class B quarterfinals; Ticonderoga, Morah win 'C' semis and E'town-Lewis and Indian Lake/Long Lake grabbed 'D' quarterfinal victories.
-
Peru finishes golf season with win
The Peru golf team finished its CVAC season with a win over AuSable Valley using scores from the first day of the Section VII Golf Championships.
-
Boyle pitches Keene past Westport
The Section VII softball tournament started Friday. Keene and E'town-Lewis got wins in 'D' quarterfinals while Ticonderoga and Lake Placid won in 'C' semifinals.
-
Renegades get Airborne Speedway spotlight
Airborne Speedway's main contest tonight will be the 50-lap Key RD Trailer Sales Renegades race.
-
Section VII Tennis Qualifiers finish today
The Section VII Tennis Qualifiers finish up today with semifinals and finals matches.
-
Area sports: May 26, 2012
A schedule of sports events this weekend featuring local teams and venues.
-
Sports shorts: May 26, 2012
Memorial Tournament teams, hole assignments; Alouettes holding open tryout; Chazy soccer camp sets dates; Larry Stringer tourney June 16; Sigel and Ohlsten winners in Minds 5K.
-
Former Seton Catholic standout Hartung headed to NCAAs


