College Hockey Stats Box Score

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Forty-eight days removed from its last State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) game, the Plattsburgh State men's ice hockey team continued its push toward postseason qualification with a 5-1 conference win over The College at Brockport on Friday evening at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena.
 
While the Cardinals were outshot 36-27, they made the most of their opportunities, going 1-for-2 on the power play while adding a shorthanded goal. Brockport, meanwhile, was 1-for-6 with the extra skater.
 
Freshman forward Rich McCartney (Hershey, Pa./Philadelphia Revolution) scored twice in the game to up his season goal total to 13, which put him in a tie for first in the SUNYAC in the statistical category. McCartney is also tied for ninth in NCAA Division III in points per game among freshmen (1.00).
 
Plattsburgh State rises to 10-8-0 overall (4-6-0 SUNYAC) with the win and hosts No. 8/8 SUNY Geneseo tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. Brockport drops to 9-9-1 overall (3-6-1 SUNYAC) with the loss and visits SUNY Potsdam tomorrow at 7 p.m.
 
After a scoreless first period, McCartney put the Cardinals on the board 2:15 into the second. Junior forward Cam Owens (Wilmington, Mass./Islanders Hockey Club) stole the puck from a Golden Eagle skater in the left corner of the Cardinals' offensive zone, and Owens skated behind the goal line before wrapping a pass to McCartney around the right post. McCartney then scored top shelf blocker side to stake Plattsburgh State to a 1-0 advantage.
 
Sophomore forward Noah Batis (Martinsville, Ind./New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs) buried what ended up being the game-winner 15:09 into the second period. Sophomore forward Antoine Desnoyers (Quebec City, Quebec/Cégep de Saint-Laurent) batted at the puck with his stick while on his back, and it eventually settled on the blade of junior forward Cole Stallard's (Atlanta, Ga./New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs) stick. Stallard slid a pass to Batis in the high slot, and Batis one-timed a wrist shot past the goal line stick side to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead.
 
Senior forward Matt Quilty (Midland, Ontario/Caledonia Corvairs) earned a share of the NCAA Division III lead in shorthanded goals with his third of the year 2:33 into the third. Owens poked the puck away from a Brockport skater in Plattsburgh State's defensive zone, and after entering the zone under heavy defensive pressure, he centered a pass to Quilty from the right face-off circle. Quilty then went top shelf glove side to add another to the Cardinal ledger.
 
Brockport trimmed the gap to 3-1 on the power play with 8:23 gone in the third. Freshman defenseman Casey Winn took a shot from the left point that was saved, but junior forward Tim Kielich was there to tip in the rebound. Senior forward Dylan Shapiro also earned an assist on the play.
 
McCartney scored his second goal of the game with 11:15 elapsed in the third on the power play. Senior defenseman Ayrton Valente (Woodbridge, Ontario/Mississauga Chargers) wheeled the puck to freshman forward Liam Lawson (Vancouver, British Columbia/Powell River Paper Kings) along the left wing, and Lawson dangled the puck in front of the goalie before passing off to McCartney, who was waiting right in front of the crease to bang the puck home.
 
Sophomore forward Joe Drabin (Rochester, N.Y./Wenatchee Wild) punctuated the victory with his second goal of the year 12:55 into the third. Lawson took control of a rebounded puck in Plattsburgh State's defensive zone. Freshman forward Greg Malafronte (Colts Neck, N.J./New Jersey Titans) got a piece of the puck as Lawson tried to gain separation from the Golden Eagles' defenders. Lawson then played the puck to himself along the left boards in the neutral zone to set up an odd-man rush, and with the attention of the goalie drawn toward him on the left side, Lawson passed to Drabin. Drabin beat a diving Golden Eagle goaltender to put the game on ice.
 
Freshman goaltender Jimmy Poreda (Tonawanda, N.Y./Connecticut Jr. Rangers) made 35 saves in the win for the Cardinals, while sophomore goaltender Matt Schneider turned aside 22 shots in the loss for the Golden Eagles.