PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The 2015 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Championship will be played out between one of Division III biggest rivalries as the Plattsburgh State men's hockey team will faceoff against the Oswego State Lakers in the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena Saturday at 7 p.m.
 
The top-seeded Cardinals were able to advance through the semifinal round in highly offensive duel against the No. 6 seed Brockport Golden Eagles outscoring them 7-5. Both Connor Toomey and Mark Constantine struck twice for the Cardinals in the victory.
 
The second-seeded Lakers advanced in a more traditional 2-0 game against the No. 5 seed Buffalo State Bengals. Goaltender Matt Zawadzki pitched a 21 save shutout while junior Brandon Adams netted both goals for Oswego State.
 
Now round three is set in Stafford Ice Arena as Plattsburgh State claimed the top seed with a 13-2-1 SUNYAC record finishing just one point ahead of Oswego State who went 12-2-2.
 
These two programs have littered the SUNYAC tournament record books winning a combine 30 out of 37 tournament championships including both schools splitting the crown in the 1982 season. Plattsburgh State holds all-time lead with 21 SUNYAC titles while Oswego State has captured 10 championships including the past two.
 
Since 1985 when the SUNYAC moved to a tournament format to award its champion the Cardinals and Lakers have meet in the finals eleven times, most recently in 2013.
 
This season both teams played each other twice in the regular season. Oswego won the first matchup on December 5 in Plattsburgh by the score of 3-1.
 
In the game Oswego jumped out to a 2-0 lead before Cardinals senior Mark Constantine made it 2-1 with 7:39 remaining in the third period. Lakers captain Bobby Gertsakis would make it 3-1 exactly three minutes later on a power play goal to cement the Oswego win.
 
In the second meeting just two weeks ago, this time in Oswego both teams battled to a 3-3 (OT) draw. Each team would trade the lead as both clubs would score a lone goal in all three periods. Senior, Connor Toomey put the Cardinals up 3-2 early in the third period but a Laker power play goal by Nick Rivait midway through the third would prove to be the equalizer.
 
The Cardinals own the overall record against the Lakers at 71-37-7 but since the 2009-10 season the balance of powers have begun to shift towards Oswego State as the Lakers are 10-3-3 in the last 16 meetings including playoffs.  
 
This year each team boasts some daunting numbers nationally in Division III. Oswego State owns the fourth best scoring offense (4.56 goals per game) and ninth best scoring defense (2.12 goals allowed per game) while the Cardinals rank seventh (4.31 goals per game, 2.08 goals allowed per game) in both those categories.
 
Where the Lakers own an edge is on the power play as Oswego State is second in the nation converting on the extra man opportunity at a staggering 31.5% of the time.
 
However, Plattsburgh State will be coming into Saturday's game as one of the more hotter teams in Division III owning the fourth longest unbeaten streak as they are 5-0-1 in its last six contests.
 
Tickets for Saturday's championship game will go on sale at the box office starting at 5:30 p.m. before the game on March 7. All tickets will be $8 per person.
 
Plattsburgh State students may obtain tickets online at tickets.plattsburgh.edu beginning at 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 7. All students will be admitted for free with a valid Plattsburgh State student ID card and a printed ticket.
 
SUNY students attending the game from other SUNY schools will also be allowed to enter the game for no charge with a valid student ID card for their corresponding school. Visiting students can get their tickets at the Field House Box Office starting at 5:30 on Saturday, March 7.
 
Fans that cannot be in attendance for Saturday's game they can keep up with the action through live video, audio and livestats at www.gocardinalsports.com.