Box Score
 
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Rookie forward Kevin Emmerling recorded his first collegiate hat trick Saturday night as the Plattsburgh State men’s hockey team earned a 5-0 win against Fredonia State in a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) matchup at the Stafford Ice Arena.
 
With the win, the Cardinals improve to 4-0-0 overall and in the conference while combining for 23 goals during the early-season streak. The loss drops Fredonia to 4-3-0 overall and 3-2-0 against SUNYAC opponents.
 
Emmerling lifted a shot over Fredonia goaltender Mark Friesen at the 11:33 mark of the opening period to put Plattsburgh on the board. Luke Baleshta and Barry Roytman were credited with assists on the game-winner.
 
The Cardinals took the 1-0 lead into the second period, but Alex Brenton quickly extended the lead when he tallied his third of the season with just 11 seconds gone in the period.
 
Later in the period, Emmerling scored on the power-play courtesy of a nice setup from Nick Jensen and Jared Docking at 6:44. Less than three minutes later, Jensen intercepted a failed clear attempt by the Blue Devils and fired a wrist shot past Friesen to make it 4-0.
 
Emmerling added one more at 7:05 of the third to complete the hat trick, giving him five goals through the first four games.
 
 The Cardinals outshot the Blue Devils, 36-22, and finished the evening 1-for-3 on the power play. Fredonia went 0-for-2.
 
Mathieu Cadieux made 22 saves to record the Cardinals’ first shutout of the season and his second-straight victory. Friesen recorded 31 stops in the loss for the Blue Devils
 
Plattsburgh will now hit the road for its next six games, beginning with next weekend’s trip to Geneseo and Brockport. Both conference games are set for 7 p.m.