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March 13, 2010

New Hartford blanks PHS

By NICK ST. DENIS

DID YOU KNOW?


You can look back over the last 70 years at some of the area athletes and personalities who made headlines in area sports. Flashback will revive memories of great local athletes and outstanding team successes.

UTICA — Missed opportunities early in the game proved costly for Plattsburgh High Saturday in the Hornets' 6-0 NYSPHSAA Division II semifinal loss to New Hartford at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

New Hartford will face Queensbury — which defeated St. Lawrence, 4-0, Saturday — today at 3:30 p.m.

After a first period of mishandled scoring chances, the Hornets seemed a step behind in each zone.

"It was almost like we were snakebitten right from the start," Plattsburgh coach Jamie Reidy said. "After the first couple shifts, it just seemed like we didn't have it tonight.

"I can't fault any of our kids. Maybe I've got to do a better job getting the team prepared to play in a big game like this."

The initial bite came 10 seconds into the first period when Plattsburgh's Ryan Latinville hit the post on a half-open net — the result of a loose rebound from a Jordan Conroy shot.

After a few odd-man rushes that just missed, it looked as if it was a matter of time before the Hornets would capitalize. But that didn't happen.

New Hartford's Tom Nitti opened the scoring at 1:02 in the first, and Michael Critelli and Eric Fitzgerald scored later in the stanza to give New Hartford a 3-0 lead late in the first.

Down 4-0 in the second period, Plattsburgh had a chance to cut into its deficit with a four-minute power play. However, the Hornets got only one shot on net in that span.

"We wanted to get at them early and get the pace and tempo where we're comfortable with," New Hartford coach John Cunningham said. —¦I was happy with the zero (shutout). We've got to play defense first, and the offense will take care of itself."

The Spartans spread out the scoring, getting all six goals from different players.

"We're more effective when we're moving the puck like we did tonight," Cunningham said.

New Hartford found the back of the net in all different kinds of ways, as well. Nitti and Critelli both lit the lamp by squeezing the puck in stick side, and Fitzgerald's goal was a one-timer on a 2-on-1 pass from Clayton Wittemore.

Alex Fukes scored in the second on a strong individual effort after a Plattsburgh turnover, Whittemore knocked in a rebound in the third and Chris Luker tallied on a slapshot from the top of the circle with 3:09 remaining in the game.

"We knew their goaltender (Brandon Bechard) had a phenomenal year, so we wanted to give him shots from all angles," Cunningham said. "Anything we could do to keep him busy."

Bechard finished with 39 saves — the same number as the amount of goals he had given up in 21 games this season before Saturday.

Plattsburgh ended the season at 22-2. The Hornets hadn't lost in 21 games until Saturday.

"It's been an absolute pleasure coaching this group of seniors," Reidy said. "I believe we are a better hockey club than we appeared to be tonight, but again, that falls on me. I'm the pilot of this team.

"(New Hartford) beat us to all the loose pucks. We weren't getting there like we had all year long."

—

New Hartford 6, Plattsburgh High 0

New Hartford312—6

Plattsburgh000—0

First period- 1, NH, Nitti (Betar), 1:02. 2, NH, Critelli ppg (Martinelli, Sheets), 8:51. 3, NH, Fitzgerald (Whittemore, Critelli), 11:18.

Second period- 4, NH, Fukes (unassisted), 2:43.

Third period- 5, NH, Whittemore (Fukes, Fitzgerald), 1:17. 6, NH, Luker (Decresi, Fitzgerald), 11:51.

Shots on goal:

New Hartford171414—45

Plattsburgh646—16

Goaltenders (shots-saves): Bechard, 45-39. Landry 16-16.

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