PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – With less than a minute to go in overtime, Kevin Weaver-Vitale (Toronto, Ontario/Markham Royals) scored a dramatic breakaway goal, lifting the Plattsburgh State men's ice hockey team to an overtime State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) 5-4 win over Buffalo State. After the Bengals scored two goals in the final minute-plus, including the game-tying goal with less than 10 seconds to go, the Cards bounced back to pick up the overtime win, as well as the extra point in the SUNYAC standings.

Weaver-Vitale added an assist with his game-winning goal, as the Cards also had scores from Jake Lanyi (North Salem, N.Y./Connecticut Jr. Rangers), Tyler Ramm (Westborough, Mass./Northeast Generals), Brannon Butler (Toronto, Ontario/Boston Advantage), and Patrick Cole (Lancaster, N.Y./Buffalo Jr. Sabres). Lanyi picked his goal up on an empty netter, while Cole and Ramm each scored on the power play. Jack Ring (Hingham, Mass./Northeast Generals) added up two assists, while Lanyi also tallied an assist to join Ring and Weaver-Vitale with multi-point nights. Jacob Hearne (Ennismore, Ontario/Toronto Jr. Canadiens) earned his 12^th win of the season in net, making 24 saves.

Plattsburgh State took advantage of their chances on the power play, going 2-3 on the night, while Buffalo State went 1-4. The Bengals ended up outshooting Plattsburgh State with a 28-24 advantage over 64-plus minutes.

The Cardinals improve to 12-10-1 (6-6 SUNYAC) with the win and next take on Fredonia on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. Tomorrow's game also marks Senior Day for the program as they celebrate six seniors: Jagger Benson (Lynnfield, Mass./Cranbrook Bucks), Jacob Hearne, Jake Lanyi, Ryan Poorman (Phoenixville, Pa./Norwich), Jack Ring, and Eli Shiller (Toronto, Ontario/Wellington Dukes). Buffalo State falls to 13-10 (7-5 SUNYAC) and next travels to Potsdam for a matchup tomorrow night.

The first period showcased two evenly matched teams, as both squads had chances to score early on. After killing a penalty midway through the first period, Plattsburgh State got their first opportunity on the advantage and wasted little time. After the penalty started at 17:02, Cole scored at 17:15, as the first-year received a pass from Jake Sacratini (Montreal, Quebec/AIC) on the doorstep and wrapped a shot around the goalie for his eighth goal of the season. Weaver-Vitale picked up the secondary assist on the goal.

Leading 1-0 heading into the second period, Plattsburgh State built a nice cushion with an early goal less than two minutes into the stanza. After a battle for the puck along the boards resulted in Ring coming away with control, he passed off to Lanyi in the right face-off circle, who then moved the puck back to Butler at the point. The junior forward then ripped a one-timer that went over the netminder's right shoulder for his third goal of the season and 2-0 Plattsburgh lead.

The Cardinals built their advantage with their second power play goal of the night, this time taking 16 seconds before Ramm deflected in a Spencer Bellina (Medina, Ohio/Chippewa Steel) shot from the point. The score was Ramm's eighth goal of the season and fourth in four games, putting Plattsburgh State up 3-0 at the 9:15 mark. Ring added the secondary assist on the play, his second helper of the evening.

The Cards looked to be on their way to an easy win, but a penalty and subsequent power play goal for the Bengals put them right back into the game with over five minutes left in the second period. Buffalo State then added a goal with less than ten seconds left in the second period, putting them down one goal heading into the final intermission.

The game remained at 3-2 in favor of Plattsburgh for the vast majority of the final regulation period as each team killed off another's power play to keep the score at a stalemate. As the game surpassed the final two-minute mark, the Bengals pulled their goalie in favor of the extra skater, and Lanyi obliged with an empty net goal, assisted by Shane Bondy (Sharon, Ontario/Markham Royals).

While the game may have looked to be over, it was far from it as Buffalo State scored with over a minute to go to put themselves back down just one score. With their goalie off the ice over the final minute-plus, the man advantage paid off with less than ten seconds left as Austin Micale tied the game for the Bengals.

The game went to overtime tied at four goals as Buffalo State had the momentum and controlled the puck for most of the extra period. However, after Hearne stopped a would-be shot attempt, Aaron Catron (Middletown, Del./Philadelphia Little Flyers) sprung Weaver-Vitale into the offensive zone for the breakaway, overtime winner, giving Plattsburgh State a huge win in their bid for playoff hockey.

Marcus Cumberworth tallied 19 saves in the loss for the Bengals while both Micale and Jason Kwestel had a goal and assist each.