Press-Republican

Sports

Discussion

PLEASE NOTE: There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.

ALSO NOTE: Derisive name-calling of an individual or group will result in the entire comment being deleted. This includes the terms "stupid" and "idiot" and similar references.

Welcome to our new online comments feature. Before you can join the discussion, you must first register with Disqus and verify your email address.

Once you do, your comments will post after they have been reviewed by a moderator.

We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean.

Not all comments are deemed printable. Some are disqualified, at the newspaper’s discretion, for a number of reasons. Here are some typical practices to avoid in trying to get your comment printed:

There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.

Don’t state as a fact something that is unsubstantiated or that our editors wouldn't know to be true.

Don’t presume someone’s guilt in a case when it hasn't been established by a court.

Don’t assail or impugn an identifiable individual or group. If you have that kind of criticism, sign your name and submit it as a Letter to the Editor. (There is some leeway on this in connection with public officials, but it is not unconditional.)

Don’t use profanity. This includes the term “tea bagger.”

Don’t be incendiary or tasteless. Those qualities are subjective, of course, and our editors will be the arbiters.

Do not identify yourself in the main content area of the article content form. Only by enforcing this rule can the moderators prevent unscrupulous commenters from falsely identifying themselves as someone they are not.

Don't type in all caps. It is considered the Internet equivalent of shouting.

In sports articles, do not criticize officiating.

Remember, moderators are not allowed to edit any article comments. If an article comment fails any of the above criteria, the entire comment will be deleted.

We monitor comments Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Approval of comments outside these times may be delayed.
comments powered by Disqus
December 6, 2007

Tough weekend for Cardinals

By JOHN CORYER

PLATTSBURGH -- Plattsburgh State head men's hockey coach Bob Emery likes to say there's always a bull's eye on the back of his team.

That bull's eye is getting bigger these days.

The Cardinals, who are 11-1 overall and 9-0 in State University of New York Athletic Conference play, now find themselves tied with Elmira College at the top of the NCAA Division III poll.

Plattsburgh State, which closed out an undefeated first semester in conference play last weekend with home victories over Brockport (6-1) and Geneseo (5-4 overtime), close out the first half this weekend with a couple of non-conference games on the road.

The Cardinals play at Division III power Middlebury College tonight at 7 p.m. and then Williams College on Saturday at 7 p.m.

"The bull's eye is definitely getting bigger," said Plattsburgh State head coach Bob Emery. "Being ranked No. 1 will get Middlebury even more emotionally ready to play.

"The ranking is good for recruiting and it's good to be recognized by your peers.

"But we have to make sure we're emotionally ready to play. Middlebury has a great tradition the last 12 years and if we can't be ready to play them, we have a problem."

And while the Cardinals have been successful this season, last Saturday's overtime win over the Knights showed Plattsburgh State still doesn't always put together three solid periods of hockey.

In fact, the Cardinals needed a huge comeback to make up for a less than stellar first two periods.

"We played our two worse periods in two years against Geneseo," Emery said. "But, we got back to our style of play in the third period and got the puck down low. We showed what we can do.

"This is a big weekend for us and we have to put everything behind us. Middlebury is now. It's going to be a real tough back-to-back weekend on the road and our great run so far this season came turn into just a good run if we don't get the job done."

The Cardinals, who have everyone healthy, have nine players with 10 points or more on the season, led by junior forward Riley Hill (8-10-18), freshman forward Dylan Clarke (8-7-15) and sophomore defenseman Ward Smith (4-11-15).

Freshman Bryan Hince (9-1, 1.88 gaa) has done the vast majority of the work between the pipes, while freshman Simon LeBlanc (2-0, 2.00 gaa) has played two games in net.

"Our goal is always to get better in the second semester," Emery said. "Other teams will get better and we have to continue to do so."

Middlebury 3-2-1 overall.

Last weekend at home, the Panthers skated to a 3-2 victory over Salem State on Friday before dropping a 3-1 decision to Southern Maine on Saturday.

Middlebury is being led in scoring by freshman defenseman Chaz Svoboda, sophomore forward Charlie Townsend (3-2-5) and senior forward Mickey Gilchrist (1-4-5).

Williams, also playing at home last weekend, skated to a 4-all overtime tie with Southern Maine on Friday and then a 4-2 victory over Salem State on Saturday.

Senior forward Brandon Jackmuff (4-3-7) and sophomore forward Alex Smigelski (3-3-6) are the leading scorers for the Ephs.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local Sports