PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – A four-goal third period helped the Plattsburgh State men's hockey team pull away from Potsdam in a Wednesday night State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) win at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena. Graduate student defenseman Kevin Weaver-Vitale (Toronto, Ontario/Markham Royals) led the way offensively for the Cardinals, posting a goal and two assists with an on-ice rating of +6.

Aaron Catron (Middletown, Del./Philadelphia Little Flyers) and Jake Sacratini (Montreal, Quebec/AIC) each scored two goals apiece, while Vlad Pshenichnikov (Moscow, Russia/Utica), Tyler Ramm (Westborough, Mass./Northeast Generals), and Riley Sutherland (Burlington, Ontario/St. Michael's Buzzers) had two assists apiece. Patrick Cole (Lancaster, N.Y./Buffalo Jr. Sabres) and Brody Spencer-Ha (Okotoks, Alberta/Drayton Valley Thunder) also tallied scores for the Cards.  Jacob Hearne (Ennismore, Ontario/Toronto Jr. Canadiens) earned the win in goal for Plattsburgh making 27 saves in 60 minutes of play in between the pipes.

The Cardinals had an excellent offensive night, matching a season-high with seven goals and putting up a season-high 51 shots, holding Potsdam to 30 shots. The Bears had a good showing on special teams, scoring on two of their three power play chances and holding Plattsburgh scoreless on their lone attempt.

The Cardinals move to 9-7-1 (4-3 SUNYAC) and next travel to Amherst on Saturday, Jan. 25 for their final non-conference matchup of the season. Potsdam falls to 4-11-3 (2-5 SUNYAC) with the loss and next host Oswego State on Friday, Jan. 31.

The first 10 minutes of action saw the Cards control the offensive battle as they held a good shot advantage over the Bears halfway through the first period. However, a penalty on Plattsburgh in the 11^th minute put Potsdam on the power play, where it took them just seven seconds to score and take the lead off the stick of Eli Doughart-Wood.

The Cardinals eventually responded just after the 17-minute mark, as Jagger Benson (Lynnfield, Mass./Cranbrook Bucks) freed up a puck in the neutral zone, allowing Ryan Bonfield (Kemptville, Ontario/Brockville Braves) to enter the offensive zone in control of possession. Bonfield then passed off to Weaver-Vitale skating towards the top of the slot, where his one-timer ripped past the Bears' goalie glove-side for the equalizer.

As time in the first period ran down, the Cards had an odd-man rush develop in transition thanks to a great pass from Weaver-Vitale in the neutral zone across to Ramm on the blue line. Ramm skated with Sacratini into the offensive zone where he passed off to the Montreal native, as Sacratini buried a shot past the right blocker of the Potsdam goalie to give the Cardinals the lead with just 25 seconds left in the period.

Plattsburgh's 2-1 advantage held for over 12 minutes into the second period, before Spencer-Ha gave the Cards a two-goal cushion. Spencer Bellina (Medina, Ohio/Chippewa Steel) began the play for Plattsburgh, moving the puck across the neutral zone before giving off to Sutherland in the offensive zone. Sutherland took the puck towards the goal and dropped off a pass to Spencer-Ha who was left undefended entering the left face-off circle, allowing him to get off a one-timer uncontested for the top shelf score.

Potsdam was able to get back within a goal with just over two-and-a-half minutes remaining in the second period, as Michael Campbell scored to make the score 3-2 heading into the final intermission.

The third period was all Plattsburgh State however, as Catron started the third period scoring almost a minute and half into the third stanza. The sophomore finished off a brilliant Weaver-Vitale pass that sprung him for a breakaway and a top-shelf score, scoring with two defenders on his back to give his team a two-goal cushion. Pshenichnikov also had an assist on the play for the Cards.

Cole started helping the Cardinals to separate with his fourth goal in his last two games, redirecting a Brannon Butler (Toronto, Ontario/Boston Advantage) shot from the point into the back of the net at the 7:09 mark of the period. Sutherland added an assist on the fifth Plattsburgh goal.

Just over a minute later, Catron added his second goal of the game, as Pshenichnikov found his linemate skating down the slot unguarded as he deposited the excellent feed into the back of the net. The goal gave Catron his second two goal game of the year as Colin Callanan (Stony Point, N.Y./New York Apple Core) also added an assist.

Sacratini wasted little time getting the seventh goal of the game on the board, scoring forty seconds after Catron's second goal, as Plattsburgh tallied three goals in a two-minute span. His second goal of the game gave him his second straight multi-point outing and fourth multi-point game of the season as the Cardinals were able to seal their win with more than half of the final period remaining.

Potsdam was able to add another power play goal with just over two minutes left, but it was not enough as the Cards pucked up the 7-3 win.

Lenny Perno took the loss making 40 saves in just over 48 minutes of action, while Campbell finished the game with a goal and two assists. Payton Felix and Doughart-Wood each had a goal and two assists.