PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State men's hockey team got back to their winning ways after suffering their first conference loss Friday night by rebounding Saturday night to an impressive 7-1 win over SUNY Cortland.
The Cardinals struck early and often scoring three times in the first period including two goals within 90 seconds of each other.
First was Rich Botting who tapped in a rebound on the left side of the crease off an Anthony Calabrese shot from the right point.
Connor Toomey would then score right after to give the Cardinals a 2-0 advantage midway through the first.
With 3:56 remaining in the opening period senior, Michael Cassidy would bury one as he received a pass from Toomey in the middle of the slot.
The Cardinals would score two more in the second period as seven seconds into the period Kyle Hall would score a short-handed goal making it 4-0.
With 2:19 elapsed in the middle frame defenseman Patrick Hermans would drill home a slap shot from the left circle.
With Plattsburgh State leading 5-0 going into the third period Luke Baleshta would make it six unanswered goals 1:44 into the period.
Cortland would finally get on the board with 3:14 remaining in the third when Nick Zappia would add to his team-high twelve goals. Zappia collected the puck right on the doorstep of the crease of a deflection before wristing one in.
Senior, Alex Brenton would get his first of the season making it 7-1 with 13 seconds left in regulation when he deflected a Chris Taff shot from the point.
Plattsburgh State finished with 72 shots on the night as Cortland goaltender Drew Weigman would break the Red Dragon's single saves record with 65. The previous record was 59 in the 1998-99 season against Mercyhurst.
Spencer Finney played the first two periods making 19 saves as he improved to 6-0-0 on the season before making way for freshman Ryan Hubbard. Hubbard made two saves on three shots in the third period.
Plattsburgh State finishes the first semester at 9-2-0 and currently lead the SUNYAC with 16 points at 8-1-0. The Cardinals will return to the ice January 2, when they host the Buck Supply W.B. Mason Cardinal Classic as they will be paired against New England College in the first round.
