PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Sophomore forward Trey Thomas (Williams Lake, British Columbia/Brooks Bandits) scored two goals, including the game-tying marker, to help the Plattsburgh State men's ice hockey team battle to a 3-3 overtime tie against long-time rival Middlebury College in non-conference action on Friday evening at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena.
 
After a scoreless first period, Middlebury scored the lone goal of the second period before the two teams combined for five markers in the third. Neither team was able to capitalize in the five-minute overtime period, as the two sides registered a tie for just the fifth time in 54 meetings dating back to the 1976-77 campaign.
 
The Cardinals finished with a commanding 48-17 edge in shots on goal, including a 21-6 advantage in the third period. Middlebury capitalized on its lone power-play opportunity of the game, while Plattsburgh State was scoreless in three tries with the extra skater, including 1:05 of a 5-on-3 opportunity in the first period. Notably, neither team was whistled for a penalty after the 10:49 mark of the second period.
 
Plattsburgh State moves to 8-5-3 overall with the result and next hosts Rivier University tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. in its final non-conference game of the regular season. Middlebury moves to 1-7-1 overall with the results and hosts Norwich University next on Tuesday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m.
 
Middlebury scored the game's first goal at 12:10 of the second period, as first-year forward Wyatt Pastor tallied on the power play. Sophomore defenseman Nolan Moore passed to sophomore forward Chris Garbe along the back wall, and Garbe sent a pass out to Pastor in the right circle. Pastor ripped a wrist shot that wound up finding the back of the net blocker side.
 
With 3:01 gone in the third period, Thomas tied the score. Junior forward Marcus Mitchell (Kelowna, British Columbia/University of Alaska Anchorage) took a tight-angle shot that hit the side of the net, and Mitchell gathered the rebound before sending a short pass to sophomore forward Carson Gallagher (Courtice, Ontario/Sacred Heart University) in the right corner. With two Panther skaters on Gallagher, Gallagher slid the puck back to Mitchell, and Mitchell sent a pass across the crease to Thomas that Thomas hammered home.
 
The Panthers seized a 2-1 edge with 6:51 elapsed in the third. First-year forward Matt Myers won a neutral-zone face-off to first-year forward Paul Fine-Lease, and Fine-Lease launched a shot from just inside the blue line that beat the Cardinal netminder high blocker side.
 
At 9:35 of the third, Plattsburgh State responded again, this time with junior forward Mitchell Hale (Oakfield, N.Y./Johnstown Tomahawks) providing the goal. Sophomore forward Pavel Kharin (Ann Arbor, Mich./Johnstown Tomahawks) sent a pass to first-year defenseman Jagger Benson (Lynnfield, Mass./Cranbrook Bucks) on the right point, and Benson ripped a one-time slap shot that was turned aside by sophomore goaltender Jake Horoho. Hale then crashed the net and punched in the rebound to net his fourth goal of the season. Benson's assist served as his first collegiate point.
 
Just 1:07 later, Middlebury took a 3-2 advantage. Myers carried the puck up the ice and was unable to center a pass, resulting in a loose puck in the left corner. Sophomore forward Andrej Hromic then picked up the puck along the boards and scored from the left circle. First-year defenseman Jake Oblak also earned an assist on the play.
 
Finally, at 14:42 of the third, Thomas netted what wound up being the game-tying goal. Junior defenseman Jacob Modry (Albany, N.Y./Merrimack College) sent a cross-ice pass to first-year defenseman Jack Ring (Hingham, Mass./Northeast Generals) to help Plattsburgh State break out of the defensive zone, and Ring eventually sent a pass to Thomas, who scored high glove side from the right circle.
 
Senior goaltender Brandon Wells (Spirit River, Alberta/Melville Millionaires) turned aside 14 shots in net for the Cardinals, while Horoho made 45 saves for the Panthers.

UFirst Federal Credit Union is the official Zamboni sponsor of Plattsburgh State men's and women's ice hockey.