CORTLAND, N.Y. — Plattsburgh State men's ice hockey earned its first regular-season victory under first-year head coach Steve Moffat with a 4-1 State University of New York Athletic Conference victory over SUNY Cortland on Saturday night at Alumni Arena.
After a scoreless first period, Plattsburgh State (1-3-0, 1-3-0 SUNYAC) scored three goals in the second period to take a 3-0 lead into the second intermission.
Plattsburgh State's first goal of the night was scored by freshman forward Adam Tretowicz (Baldwinsville, N.Y./Buffalo Jr. Sabres) on a 5-on-3 power play at the 2:19 mark. The Cardinals worked the puck around the offensive zone to freshman forward Joe Kile (Troy, Mich./Johnstown Tomahawks) in the high slot. Kile passed the puck to Tretowicz at the left side of the net and Tretowicz quickly fired a shot before the goaltender could shift over to cover the side of the goal. Freshman defenseman Ryan Hogg (Duncan, British Columbia/Islanders Hockey Club) also assisted on the play. The goal was the first of Tretowicz's collegiate career and it was the first career assist for both Kile and Hogg.
Less than two minutes later, the Cardinals struck again with an even-strength goal at 4:11 of the second period. This time, Kile scored his first collegiate goal with senior forward Ryan Kuhn (Wheatfield, N.Y./Niagara University) and graduate student defenseman Philip Middleton (Vail, Colo./Salmon Arm Silverbacks) assisting on the play. In the right circle, Kile got around a Red Dragon player by playing the puck through the player's legs. He then wired a wrist shot past the goaltender to make the score 2-0.
The Cardinals' final goal of the second period was scored by junior forward Liam Lawson (Vancouver, British Columbia/Powell River Paper Kings) at the 15:48 mark. On a rush into the offensive zone, freshman defenseman Jake Sutton (Pompano Beach, Fla./Northern Cyclones) had an initial shot that was saved. Senior forward Joe Drabin (Rochester, N.Y./Wenatchee Wild) then took a close-range shot that was saved but the rebound went over to Lawson at the right side of the crease and he finished for his first goal of the season. Sutton tallied his first collegiate assist and point on the play.
In the third period, Cortland fought back and scored its lone goal of the game at 15:02. Logan Blaser recorded the goal with Ethan Homitz and Stefano Alonzi assisting on the play.
Plattsburgh State would not allow Cortland to pull any closer and freshman forward Brendan Young (Lefroy, Ontario/Blind River Beavers) scored his first career goal into an empty net at 18:06 of the third period to make the final score 4-1. Sophomore defenseman Cam Kuhl (Clifton Park, N.Y./New Jersey Titans) picked up his first career assist on the play.
Junior netminder Jimmy Poreda (Tonawanda, N.Y./Connecticut Jr. Rangers) (1-3-0) made 22 saves to earn his first victory of the season for Plattsburgh State. Nick Modica (1-2-0) stopped 30 shots in net for Cortland.
Plattsburgh State outshot Cortland 34-23 on the night.
The Cardinals went 1-of-3 on the power play and Cortland finished 0-of-6.
Plattsburgh State welcomes Fredonia to the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena for a SUNYAC game on Military Appreciation Night at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15. Cortland goes on the road to face Lebanon Valley in a non-conference game at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, in Annville Pa.
