College Hockey Stats Box Score

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State men's ice hockey team overcame a 2-0 deficit, and freshman forward Christian DiFelice (Thorold, Ontario/Buffalo Jr. Sabres) scored the game-winner at 2:53 of the third period, as the Cardinals defeated New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC)-leading Wesleyan University, 3-2, on Tuesday afternoon in non-conference action at Spurrier-Snyder Rink.
 
A stout penalty-kill unit helped Plattsburgh State, as the visiting Cardinals killed off seven Wesleyan power-play opportunities. Plattsburgh State went 0-for-3 with the man advantage. Wesleyan finished with a 33-28 edge in shots on goal, and sophomore goaltender Lawson Fenton (Medina, N.Y./Coquitlam Express) backstopped the Plattsburgh State defense with 31 saves. Junior goaltender Tim Sestak made 25 stops in the loss for Wesleyan.
 
Plattsburgh State rises to 7-7-2 overall with the win and next visits non-conference SUNY Canton on Saturday, Jan. 19, at 7 p.m. Wesleyan falls to 7-4-2 overall with the loss and next hosts Connecticut College in a NESCAC game on Friday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m.
 
Senior forward Ross Sloan (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Blades) nearly scored visiting Cardinals' first goal of the game 15:09 into the first period, as his wrap-around attempt was thwarted with a pad save by Sestak. Wesleyan ended up opening scoring 25 seconds later, however, as junior forward Spencer Fox one-timed a pass from junior forward Tyler Wyatt. Freshman forward Tyler Levine also earned an assist on the play.
 
Wesleyan received a goal from senior defenseman Chad Malinowski with 41 seconds left in the opening period to extend its lead, as Levine sent a backwards pass to Malinowski in the high slot before Malinowski found the back of the net. Junior forward Walker Harris earned the secondary assist.
 
Senior forward Pat Egan (Rochester, N.Y./Lone Star Brahmas) cut the Plattsburgh State deficit in half at 16:06 of the second period. Senior forward Cole Stallard (Atlanta, Ga./New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs) sent a long pass from the right side of the defensive zone before Egan tucked the puck under the crossbar from just outside the crease. Senior forward Cam Owens (Wilmington, Mass./Islanders Hockey Club) also earned an assist on the play.
 
Just seven seconds into the third period, sophomore forward Mike Falanga (East Haven, Conn./Islanders Hockey Club) tied the game. DiFelice won the period's opening face-off, while Falanga ended up sneaking the puck past Sestak.
 
DiFelice ended up scoring the game-winner at the 2:53 mark of the third period. Senior forward Ryan Kuhn (Wheatfield, N.Y./Niagara University) took a shot that was saved by Sestak, and DiFelice collected the rebound and saw his initial shot turned aside. He persisted and ended up banging the puck past the goal line to hand the visiting Cardinals the lead.
 
Wesleyan's best chance to net the equalizer came on a power-play chance 16:15 into the third period. Malinowski blasted a shot toward the goal, but Fenton came up with the stop to preserve the Plattsburgh State lead.