College Hockey Stats Box Score

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State men's ice hockey team rang in the New Year with a 5-2 victory over Connecticut College on Friday evening at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena to open up its action at the W.B. Mason Winter Classic.
 
With the win, Plattsburgh State advances to the W.B. Mason Winter Classic championship game, where it will face Saint Anselm College tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. in search of its 22nd Winter Classic title. Saint Anselm knocked off Manhattanville College, 6-4, in the opening contest of the day, and Manhattanville and Connecticut College will square off in the consolation game tomorrow at 4 p.m.
 
Senior forward Ryan Kuhn (Wheatfield, N.Y./Niagara University) led the Cardinals with two goals, while sophomore forward Rich McCartney (Hershey, Pa./Philadelphia Revolution) dished out two assists. Sophomore goaltender Lawson Fenton (Medina, N.Y./Coquitlam Express) earned a victory in his first appearance of the season, turning aside 31 shots in the winning effort.
 
The Cardinals' penalty kill stood tall all evening, killing off six Camel power-play opportunities, including a five-minute major in the third. Plattsburgh State, meanwhile, was 1-for-5 with the man advantage, though Connecticut College did kill off a 5-on-3 situation late in the second period. The Cardinals finished with a 44-33 edge in shots on goal.
 
Plattsburgh State rises to 6-5-1 overall with the win, while Connecticut College drops to 3-7-1 overall with the loss.
 
Sophomore forward Mike Falanga (East Haven, Conn./Islanders Hockey Club) put the Cardinals on the board 15:37 into the first period with his first goal of the season. Freshman defenseman Ian Wallgren (Stockholm, Sweden/Connecticut Oilers) threw a puck toward the net from the right point that was turned aside, but Falanga took advantage of an open net and wristed home the rebound in the low slot.
 
Just 20 seconds later, Plattsburgh State added to its lead with a well-executed goal off a give-and-go on the rush. Junior forward Antoine Desnoyers (Quebec City, Quebec/Cégep de Saint-Laurent) led the rush down the left wing and centered a pass to freshman forward Christian DiFelice (Thorold, Ontario/Buffalo Jr. Sabres), who sent the puck back to Desnoyers in the left face-off circle. Desnoyers then found junior defenseman Charles Barber (Queensbury, N.Y./New York Bobcats) just outside the crease along the right post, and Barber scored low glove side to give the Cardinals a 2-0 advantage.
 
Senior forward Jesse Neher (Calgary, Alberta/Cowichen Valley Capitals) netted his first goal of the season at 17:06 of the first period. Junior forward Joe Drabin (Rochester, N.Y./Wenatchee Wild) forced a turnover in the Connecticut College zone along the left boards and passed the puck forward to Neher. Neher proceeded to drive down to the bottom of the left circle and wrist a shot top shelf glove side.
 
The Camels responded just 16 seconds later, as freshman forward Steven Senese skated the length of the ice after a defensive-zone face-off and scored top shelf glove side. Junior forward Ryan Petti also earned an assist on the play.
 
Kuhn extended the lead with 4:13 gone in the second. McCartney played the puck along the boards to freshman defenseman Matt Araujo (Brookhaven, N.Y./Boston Jr. Rangers) on the right point, and Araujo centered a pass down to Kuhn in the low slot that Kuhn one-timed into the back of the net.
 
Midway through the period, Kuhn scored on the power play to net his second goal of the game. McCartney eluded several Camel defenders with skilled stickhandling in carrying the puck into the offensive zone, and he centered a pass to Kuhn right in front of the crease. Kuhn one-timed the feed to hand the Cardinals their biggest lead of the night. Junior defenseman Andrew Pizzo (Thorold, Ontario/Niagara University) also earned an assist on the goal.
 
Sophomore forward Paul Capozzi found twine for Connecticut College at 13:20 of the second. The Cardinals took a shot from the point that was blocked by Senese, and the rebound sprung Capozzi forward with no Plattsburgh State defenders in sight. With just the goalie to beat, he used the backhand to set up a forehand wrist shot that beat the goaltender low glove side.
 
Neither team scored in the third period, as Plattsburgh State held on for the win.
 
Connecticut College's junior goaltender Connor Rodericks made 39 saves in the loss.