PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - Freshman Ian DeLong scored a career-high three points and defenseman Ryan Corry added three assists to power No. 2-ranked Plattsburgh State to a crushing 8-1 defeat of visiting Castleton State in the Cardinal Classic Semifinals at Stafford Ice Arena on Friday. The Cardinals, who rang in The New Year with their best offensive output at home this season, improve to 8-1-2 after being idle since Dec. 4. The Spartans drop to 1-6-2.  BOXSCORE

On Saturday, Castleton will play Skidmore in the third-place game at 4 p.m. followed by Trinity (Conn.) against the Cardinals in the championship at 7 p.m.

Plattsburgh came out buzzing after the opening faceoff as Chris Wieland made it 1-0 just 54 seconds into the game. The Cardinals built a 4-0 lead after two periods on goals by Kyle Kudroch, Vick Schlueter and Eric Satim. Satim also scored his team-leading ninth goal in the middle of the third period.

Freshman Ben Schoeneberger scored the Spartans' lone goal--the first of his collegiate career, unassisted--with 2 minutes and 29 seconds left in the second period, spoiling freshman Ryan Williams' first career shutout bid. He ended up with 18 saves to improve to 5-0-1.

Other Plattsburgh players with a multi-point game were defenseman Cody Adams with two assists, Schlueter and Wieland with a goal and assist each, and Dylan Clarke with two assists.

The Cardinals peppered the Spartan goal manned by Arthur Hollinger (22 saves) and Justin Roethlingshoefer (2) with 32 shots on goal.  Their power play also clicked on all cylinders by scoring four times in nine opportunities.         

Trinity scored four goals in the third period to blow open a close game for a 7-2 victory earlier in the afternoon over Skidmore in the first semifinal of the Cardinal Classic. The Bantams improve to 5-2-1 while the Thoroughbreds fall to 4-5.  BOXSCORE

Jordan So scored a short-handed goal for a 4-2 Bantams advantage midway through the final stanza, igniting a scoring outburst over a span of 5 minutes.  Stephen Rogers, Zachary Lombardi and Regnars Alksnis also found the back of the net during that time.

Skidmore tied the game 2-all in the second period on goals by Chris Webb and Zach Menard. But just 1:56 after Menard's goal, Adam Houli put Trinity back in the lead for good with his sixth of the season at the 12:56 mark.

Trinity goaltender Wesley Vesprini improved to 5-1-1 while making 30 stops, including several incredible saves.

The Bantams outshot the Thoroughbreds 33-32 and both teams went 1-for-6 on the power play.