PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - Dylan Clarke scored three goals, and Matt Bessing added two, to pace the No. 2-seed Plattsburgh State men's hockey team to a 5-2 victory Saturday over No. 4 Brockport in the State University of New York Athletic Conference tournament semifinals at the Stafford Ice Arena. The nationally fourth-ranked Cardinals (18-4-4) will travel to regular-season champion Oswego--an 8-5 winner against Morrisville in tonight's other semifinal game--for the conference title next Saturday (7 p.m.).  BOXSCORE

The two-time defending SUNYAC champion Cardinals and Lakers will be meeting in the conference finals for the third straight season. Plattsburgh will be making its 19th straight appearance in the SUNYAC championship game and 23rd overall, both league benchmarks.

Plattsburgh jumped to a 2-0 lead versus Brockport on goals by Clarke and Bessing, with the former coming just 35 seconds after the opening face-off.

Former Cardinal Ryan Silveira cut the deficit in half with his fourth goal of the season midway through the second period. Nick Panepinto and Brett Jendra were credited with assists on the play.

But in the opening minutes of the third period, Clarke and Bessing scored 1 minute and 19 seconds apart for a 4-1 cushion.

Brockport made it 4-2 at the midpoint while on the power play. James Cody scored his team-leading 14th goal of the season on a rebound shot by Tyler Davis.

Clarke put the finishing touches on his second career hat-trick with an empty-net goal at the 19:47 mark.

Plattsburgh held a 29-26 shots on goal advantage and both teams scored on the power play (Cardinals had four attempts; Brockport, 3).

Josh Leis made 24 saves to improve to 8-3-3 while Brockport's Todd Sheridan also stopped 24 shots. 

The Golden Eagles end their season at 14-12-1.