Box Score
MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – The line of Connor Gorman, Luke Baleshta and Kevin Emmerling combined for three goals and four points to guide the Plattsburgh State men’s hockey team to a 4-1 win at Morrisville State in a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) contest Friday night at the Morrisville State IcePlex.
Morrisville, which is the second-most penalized team in Division III, provided the Cardinals with ample opportunities in the first period. Plattsburgh spent a significant portion of the period on the power play after four straight calls against the Mustangs, including a five-minute major and a game disqualification.
Despite the numerous chances with a man-advantage, it was a short-handed goal that opened the scoring for Plattsburgh State. Gorman scored an unassisted marker with two minutes left in the first to give the Cardinals (12-5-1, 7-1-1 SUNYAC) a 1-0 lead at the first intermission.
Emmerling made it a two-goal cushion at 13:03 of the second period with a power-play goal from Jared Docking and Baleshta. The rookie forward became the first Cardinal to hit double-digits in goals, tallying his 10th of the year.
The Mustangs (1-15-2, 1-8-0 SUNYAC) came within one at 1:28 in the final stanza on Anthony Scornaienchi’s goal from Zach Baker and James Jarvis.
Less than seven minutes later and another Plattsburgh power-play winding down, Baleshta capitalized on the opportunity with his seventh of the year from Docking and Dillan Fox.
With a two-point night, Baleshta becomes the first Cardinal to hit 20 points this season and remains the team’s leading scorer. Docking also continues to be on pace for a career year with his two assists. The senior forward has registered nine points in the last five games and is two points away from his career high of 20.
Senior Patrick Jobb added an empty-net goal with one second remaining to secure the 4-1 win for the Cardinals.
Mathieu Cadieux allowed one goal on 20 shots to improve to 8-5-1 for the Cardinals. Morrisville’s Christopher Azzano suffered the loss with 34 saves.
Morrisville took nine penalties for 29 minutes while Plattsburgh took 6 penalties for 12 minutes. The Cardinals went 2-for-7 on the power play while the Mustangs were unable to cash one in on five chances.
The Cardinals return home Friday, Jan. 25 to face Potsdam on Military Appreciation Night. Members of the Plattsburgh State men’s hockey team will be wearing special camo jerseys for the event. The jersey will be autographed and auctioned off immediately following the game with all proceeds from the auction benefitting The Pat Tillman Foundation. Game time is 7 p.m. at the Stafford Ice Arena.
