BROCKPORT, N.Y. —Sophomore defenseman Matt Araujo (Brookhaven, N.Y./Boston Jr. Rangers) scored a power-play goal 91 minutes and nine seconds into the game to lift Plattsburgh State men's ice hockey to a 3-2 victory in double overtime over The College at Brockport in the first round of the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Tournament on Wednesday night at Tuttle North Ice Arena.
With the victory, No. 5 seed Plattsburgh State (10-13-3) advances to the semifinals of the SUNYAC Tournament where the Cardinals will face No. 2 seed Oswego State (15-9-1) in a road game on Tuesday, March 3, at 7 p.m. No. 1 seed SUNY Geneseo (20-3-2) and No. 6 seed SUNY Potsdam (7-16-2) will play in the other semifinal game on Saturday, Feb. 29.
Sophomore forward Christian DiFelice (Thorold, Ontario/Buffalo Jr. Sabres) scored the first two goals of the game as Plattsburgh State took a 2-0 lead over Brockport (15-10-1).
DiFelice's first goal of the game, assisted by freshman forward Mitchell Hale (Oakfield, N.Y./Johnstown Tomahawks) and senior forward and alternate captain Joe Drabin (Rochester, N.Y./Wenatchee Wild) put Plattsburgh State in front, 1-0, at 12:28 of the first period. DiFelice took an initial shot that was saved, but he got to his own rebound and chipped it in past Brockport's goaltender Matt Schneider (13-9-1) for the goal.
The Cardinals' lead remained 1-0 until 9:27 of the second period when DiFelice increased the Plattsburgh State lead to 2-0 with his fourth goal of the season. Freshman forward Hunter Alden (Walla Walla, Wash./Northeast Generals) forced a turnover in the neutral zone that led to a 2-on-1 rush with DiFelice. Alden entered the right side of the offensive zone and sent a pass over to DiFelice, who one-timed a shot from the slot for the goal. Alden garnered the lone assist.
Momentum started to shift to Brockport after Plattsburgh State was called for a major penalty at 10:09 of the second period. After Brockport was later called for a minor penalty at 12:04 of the second period, the Golden Eagles would score a 4-on-4 goal at 13:36 when Doc Gentzler finished off a rush with a wrist shot into the upper-right corner to make the sore 2-1. Corey Tam and Jordan Renaud garnered the assists.
Plattsburgh State held off the Golden Eagles for the remainder of the second period and led, 2-1, entering the third period.
In the third period, Plattsburgh State limited Brockport's offensive opportunities and Plattsburgh State led, 2-1 with just over a minute remaining in regulation. However, Renaud scored for Brockport with 1:04 remaining in regulation to tie the game at 2-2 and force overtime. After an offensive-zone face-off win for the Golden Eagles, Renaud fired a shot from near the top of the right circle that deflected off of a Plattsburgh State skater and past junior goaltender Jimmy Poreda (Tonawanda, N.Y./Connecticut Jr. Rangers) (10-9-3).
Neither team scored in the final minute of the third period and the game went to overtime tied at 2-2.
In the first overtime period, Brockport held a 9-7 edge in shots on goal and Jeremy Solat fired a shot that hit the crossbar for the Golden Eagles. However, the score remained tied and the game headed to a second overtime period.
Araujo scored the game-winning goal on the power-play at 11:09 of the second overtime to complete the 3-2 victory for Plattsburgh State. Araujo one-timed a slap shot from the high slot into the upper-left corner of the net for the game-winning goal. The goal was the fifth of the season for Araujo and his first game winner.
Poreda made 37 saves in net for Plattsburgh State, including 12 during the two overtime periods. Schneider made 41 saves in goal for Brockport.
Shots on goal were 44-39 in favor Plattsburgh State.
Plattsburgh State finished 1-of-3 on the power play, while holding Brockport to 0-of-4.
