PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - The No. 1-ranked Plattsburgh State men's hockey team began its two-time title defense with a 4-2 victory Friday over Geneseo at Stafford Ice Arena in the State University of New York Athletic Conference opener for both schools. The Cardinals (1-0, 1-0 SUNYAC) used late third-period goals by Andrew Willock and Eric Satim 17 seconds apart to break a 2-2 deadlock, staying undefeated in conference play in 17 straight games (16-0-1). BOXSCORE

Phil Rose put the visitors up 1-0 just 2 minutes and 48 seconds after the opening face-off, scoring his first goal of the season.

Freshman Chris Wieland evened it at 1-all by scoring his first career collegiate goal with 12 seconds left in the first period.

Like the first, the teams traded goals in the second stanza when Dylan Clarke netted his first of the season just 33 seconds in for a 2-1 Plattsburgh lead before Danny Scagnelli tied it 6:03 later.

That set the stage for Willock's eventual game-winner. After Geneseo's Jake Yard was whistled for a 2-minute tripping penalty, Plattsburgh coach Bob Emery called for a timeout with 4:45 to go in the game. The Cardinals worked a set play as defenseman Mike Kavanagh found an open Willock for the go-ahead goal on the power-play.

Plattsburgh outshot Geneseo 32 to 23, including 16-8 in the middle period.

Cory Gershon kept the Knights (0-3, 0-1 SUNYAC) in it by making 28 saves. Josh Leis, a freshman, made his first career start in net for the Cardinals, stopping 21 shots. He prevented the Knights from taking a 3-2 lead late in the second period, stopping Sebastian Panetta's breakaway shot while the Cardinals were on the power-play. Panetta was so frustrated by Leis' glove save that he broke his stick over the goal and earned a 10-minute misconduct penalty.