MIDDLEBURY, Vt. — Plattsburgh State men's ice hockey defeated Middlebury College, 4-1, in non-conference play on Friday night at Chip Kenyon Arena.
Plattsburgh State improved to 6-8-1 on the season and next plays at No. 13 Williams College tomorrow at 3 p.m. in Williamstown, Mass. Middlebury fell to 7-7-0 and travels to play at Bowdoin College at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 24.
Plattsburgh State scored the only goal of the first period to take a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. After forcing a turnover in the Middlebury defensive zone, Senior forward and alternate captain Joe Drabin (Rochester, N.Y./Wenatchee Wild) sent a pass from the left sideboards to freshman forward Adam Tretowicz (Baldwinsville, N.Y./Buffalo Jr. Sabres) in the slot. Tretowicz controlled the puck and fired a low wrist shot for his first goal of the game.
In the second period of play, Plattsburgh State outscored Middlebury, 3-1, to extend its lead to 4-1.
Senior defenseman Andrew Pizzo (Thorold, Ontario/Niagara University) took a shot from the blue line that was deflected on goal by Drabin. Drabin's shot was saved, but Tretowicz banged home the rebound for his second goal of the game to make the score 2-0 at 10:08 of the second period. Freshman forward Mitchell Hale (Oakfield, N.Y./Johnstown Tomahawks) and Drabin tallied the assists.
One minute later, Plattsburgh State increased its lead to 3-0 when junior forward Mike Falanga (East Haven, Conn./Islanders Hockey Club) scored his first goal of the season. On a highlight-reel play, senior forward Ryan Kuhn (Wheatfield, N.Y./Niagara University) skated the puck into the Cardinals' offensive zone and cut towards the slot. Kuhn spun and backhanded a pass to Falanga cutting to the net. Falanga finished with a deke and backhand shot for the goal at 11:08 of the second period. Kuhn and sophomore defenseman Matt Araujo (Brookhaven, N.Y./Boston Jr. Rangers) assisted on the play.
Middlebury's lone goal of the night came at 13:55 of the second period. Coming out of the penalty box after a Plattsburgh State power play, the Panthers' Zach Shapiro took an outlet pass in the neutral zone, went on a breakaway and scored on a wrist shot through the five-hole to make the score 3-1. Antoine Belisle and Owen Powers garnered the assists.
Plattsburgh State's Drabin answered immediately — scoring what turned out to be the final goal of the game on the power play at 14:07 of the second period. Araujo one-timed a shot from the left point that was redirected in front of the net by Drabin for the goal. Freshman forward Christian Thomas (Bloomingdale, N.Y./Topeka Pilots) tallied the secondary assist.
In the third period, Plattsburgh State's defense and junior goaltender Jimmy Poreda (Tonawanda, N.Y./Connecticut Jr. Rangers) (6-6-1) preserved the Plattsburgh State lead for the 4-1 victory. Poreda stopped 23 shots on the night, including 11 saves in the third period.
Adam Wisco (2-4-0), who started in goal for Middlebury, made 17 saves and allowed three goals in 31:08 of play before being relieved by Jake Horoho. Horoho made eight saves and surrendered one goal in 28:52 of game time.
Plattsburgh State finished 1-of-7 on the power play, while holding Middlebury to an 0-of-6 performance.
Shots on goal were 29-24 in favor of Plattsburgh State.
