MIDDLEBURY, Vt. — Junior forward Marcus Mitchell (Kelowna, British Columbia/University of Alaska Anchorage) scored two goals, including the game-winning goal, to propel Plattsburgh State men's ice hockey to a 4-3 overtime victory over the Milwaukee School of Engineering in the FirstLight Shootout on Saturday at Middlebury College's Chip Kenyon '85 Arena.
Plattsburgh State (5-3-1) faces No. 6 Norwich University tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. for its final game of the FirstLight Shootout. The winner of that game will be the FirstLight Shootout champion. MSOE, who finished third in the FirstLight Shootout, travels to Adrian College for a two-game series at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 3, and Saturday, Dec. 4, at 2 p.m.
With the score tied 3-3 in overtime, Mitchell gave Plattsburgh State the victory with his second goal of the night at the 1:13 mark. Mitchell took a wrist shot from just inside the top of the left circle that hit off the goaltender's left shoulder before finding its way just inside the right post to give the Cardinals a 4-3 overtime victory. First-year defenseman Jack Ring (Hingham, Mass./Northeast Generals) tallied his seventh assist of the season on the play.
Plattsburgh State fell behind 2-1 in the first 20:00 of play.
At 6:55 of the first period, junior forward Matt Hanewell tucked a shot inside the right post from right at the goal line to give MSOE a 1-0 lead.
Plattsburgh State tied the game at 1-1 when sophomore forward Trey Thomas (Williams Lake, British Columbia/Brooks Bandits) scored with a wrist shot from the top of the right circle. Graduate student forward Mike Falanga (East Haven, Conn./Islanders Hockey Club) tallied the primary assist.
MSOE took a 2-1 lead on a goal by junior forward Christian Sabin at 16:43 of the first period. Hanewell forced a turnover and played a pass from the right circle to the front of the net where Sabin one-timed a shot for the goal.
Plattsburgh State scored twice in the second period and MSOE scored once to tie the game at 3-3 after two periods of play.
Junior forward Adam Tretowicz (Baldwinsville, N.Y./Buffalo Jr. Sabres) tied the game at 2-2 with a power-play goal for Plattsburgh State at 7:07 of the second period. Thomas passed the puck from the top of the slot to Tretowicz by the near post and Tretowicz one-timed a shot for the goal. Sophomore forward Joey Mancuso (Pottstown, Pa./Connecticut Jr. Rangers) garnered the secondary assist.
Less than 30 seconds later, Mitchell scored his first goal of the game at 7:34 of the second period to put the Cardinals in front, 3-2. Mitchell took a wrist shot from the left circle that went over the goaltender's shoulder and under the crossbar for the goal. Sophomore forward Pavel Kharin (Ann Arbor, Mich./Johnstown Tomawaks) and junior forward Mitchell Hale (Oakfield, N.Y./Johntsown Tomahawks) tallied the assists.
Hanewell tied the game at 3-3 with his second goal of the game for MSOE at 10:02 of the second period. After an initial shot was saved, Hanewell scored on a second chance right in front of the net. Graduate student forward Stian Owens and Sabin tallied the assists.
Neither team scored in the third period, which forced overtime and set the stage for Mitchell's game-winning goal at 1:13 of overtime to give Plattsburgh State the 4-3 overtime victory.
Sophomore goaltender Anthony Del Tufo (Livingston, N.J./Philadelphia Revolution) made 22 saves as he improved to 5-3-1 on the season for Plattsburgh State. sophomore goaltender Nick Stofcheck (1-3-1) made 19 saves for MSOE.
