OSWEGO, N.Y. – Sophomore forward Bennett Stockdale (Ottawa, Ontario/Alabama Huntsville) scored two goals, but the Plattsburgh State men's ice hockey team dropped a 5-2 decision to rival Oswego State in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action on Saturday evening at the Deborah F. Stanley Arena.
 
Oswego never trailed in the contest, netting two goals inside of the opening 3:21 of play. Stockdale cut the gap to 2-1 at 8:59 of the second and 4-2 at 16:27 of the third, but the Lakers wound up pulling away.
 
Neither team scored on the power play, with Plattsburgh State going 0-for-2 and Oswego going 0-for-1. The Cardinals outshot the Lakers by a 28-27 margin.
 
Plattsburgh State falls to 10-6-3 overall (6-3-1 SUNYAC) with the loss and next hosts conference-leading and No. 2-ranked SUNY Geneseo on Friday, Jan. 28, at 7 p.m. Oswego rises to 12-4-1 overall (7-1-1 SUNYAC) with the win and next visits SUNY Cortland on Friday, Jan. 28, at 7 p.m.
 
Oswego got on the board at 1:32 of the first period. Sophomore forward Shane Bull drove the puck down low and launched a sharp-angle shot on goal. Sophomore goaltender Anthony Del Tufo (Livingston, N.J./Philadelphia Revolution) made the save, but sophomore forward Tyler Flack banged in the rebound.
 
Just 1:49 later, the Lakers scored again. Sophomore defenseman Ryan Dickinson laid out for a poke check in the defensive zone and cleared the puck to the offensive blue line, where it was picked up by sophomore forward Connor Sleeth. Sleeth wound up skating into the offensive zone and beat the goaltender blocker side. First-year defenseman Ben Addison also earned an assist on the goal.
 
Stockdale trimmed the deficit to 2-1 at 8:59 of the second period. The Cardinals passed it into the middle, and Stockdale took advantage of a screened Laker netminder to score. Junior forward Hunter Alden (Walla Walla, Wash./Northeast Generals) and sophomore forward Carson Gallagher (Courtice, Ontario/Sacred Heart University) earned assists on the tally.
 
The Lakers had an answer 1:15 later, with junior forward Garrett Clegg finding the back of the net on the rebound off an initial shot junior forward Tommy Cahill. Sophomore forward Conor Smart scored for the Lakers 35 seconds later, relying on assists from sophomore forward Alex DiCarlo and junior forward Travis Broughman.
 
Stockdale tallied his second goal of the game at 16:27 of the third, as he scored on a breakaway. Graduate student forward Mike Falanga (East Haven, Conn./Islanders Hockey Club) and senior defenseman Matt Araujo (Brookhaven, N.Y./Boston Jr. Rangers) each were credited with assists on Stockdale's second goal. Oswego sealed the win 16 seconds later, with sophomore forward A.J. Ryan tallying on a feed from junior forward Josh Leblanc.
 
The Cardinals pulled their goalie in favor of the extra attacker for the final 2:30 of play, but Oswego was able to prevent Plattsburgh State from drawing any closer.
 
Del Tufo made 22 saves in the loss for the Cardinals, while junior goaltender Steven Kozikoski turned aside 26 shots in the win for the Lakers.

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