PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - Host Plattsburgh State jumped out to a 3-0 lead but Potsdam State responded with three unanswered goals of their own as the North Country rivals skated to a 3-3 tie in State University of New York Athletic Conference men's hockey action on Friday before a sellout crowd of 2,047 at Stafford Ice Arena. The top-ranked Cardinals move to 7-1-2 overall, including 6-1-1 in the SUNYAC, while the Bears are now 5-5-1 and 3-4-1 in the league. BOXSCORE

Plattsburgh was well on its way to closing the fall semester with its eighth win after scoring twice in the second period and the first goal in the third. Vick Schlueter and Kyle Kudroch scored 51 seconds apart beginning with the 6:43 mark of the middle stanza. Schlueter banged home a rebound off an Andrew Willock shot, and Kudroch found the back of the net on a wrap-around, unassisted. Schlueter made it 3-0 with 1:49 gone in the third when he took a feed from Matty MacLeod for a shorthanded goal.

However, the Bears got on the scoreboard just 1:25 later with a power play goal off the stick of Todd Hosmer. Then Colin MacLennan cut the deficit to 3-2 1:48 later. Fraser Smith forced overtime with his sixth goal of the season coming with 7:08 left in regulation.

In the 5-minute sudden-victory overtime, Plattsburgh carried the play by getting the most dangerous chances from the slot. In fact, the Cardinals had the best chance to end it when a shot from the left-circle clanged off the crossbar.

The teams were scoreless after 20 minutes despite a huge 12-5 shots on goal advantage by Plattsburgh in the first period. The Cardinals finished the game ahead, 36-31.

Both teams couldn't cash in on one power-play opportunity each in the extra session. The Bears also had a power play late in regulation but that was wiped out on a tripping infraction by MacLennan.

Potsdam goalie Trevor O'Neill kept the Bears close by making 33 saves while Josh Leis had 28 in the Cardinals goal.