The Press Republican is the North Country's #1 newspaper. Here's what was reported in it about last night's game...
PLATTSBURGH — Generating scoring chances wasn't a problem for the Plattsburgh State men's hockey team Saturday night.
Getting the puck past 6-3 senior netminder Todd Sheridan, however, was an issue.
Freshman Matt Bessing's goal with 5:47 gone in the third period broke a 1-all tie and sent the Cardinals to a 4-1 win over Brockport in State University of New York Athletic Conference play at the Stafford Ice Arena.
It completed a weekend sweep at home for the Cardinals (2-0, 2-0), who posted a 4-2 victory over Geneseo the night before, to open the 2009-10 season.
"We were able to create a ton of scoring chances," said Plattsburgh State head coach Bob Emery. "We played Cardinal hockey when we got our cycle going, got the puck in deep and played physical.
"We still have a lot of work to do. We have a young team and we need to show some patience."
Sheridan made 39 saves in the contest as the Cardinals finished with a 43-19 shot advantage.
"He's a good goaltender and we needed to get more traffic in front of him," Emery said. "I give Brockport a lot of credit because they kept us from getting second shots."
It was a 1-all game when Bessing got the puck down low and slipped a low shot past Sheridan at 5:45.
Patrick Jobb, who assisted on Bessing's goal, then gave Plattsburgh State a 2-1 lead at 12:34. Defenseman Tom Breslin hit Jobb with a pass at the Brockport blue line and the freshman went in on a breakaway to score.
"We can't win games without our freshmen contributing," said Emery. "We need contributions from everyone."
The Cardinals added the finishing touch at 16:34 when Kyle VanderMale scored off a nice two-on-one.
The first period was scoreless, despite the Cardinals holding a 16-7 shot advantage.
"We came out and played well," Emery said. "We were able to get the puck in deep, but had nothing to show for it on the scoreboard."
The Cardinals did open the scoring early in the second period, at 2:38, when Phil Farrow tallied a power-play goal, sending a rebound in front over Sheridan.
The Golden Eagles (0-2, 0-2), however, drew even with a power-play goal of their own at 15:19. Jason Gorrie deflected the puck in front past Plattsburgh State freshman goalie Ryan Williams, who was making his first-career start.
"We had a bad turnover that led to their goal — we should have been able to clear the puck," Emery said. "We didn't play as well in the second period as we did in the first."
Williams stopped 18 of the 19 shots he faced to get the victory.
"He did what he had to do," Emery said.
The Cardnals stay at home to host Cortland at 7 p.m. on Friday and rival Oswego at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
In other SUNYAC action Saturday, Oswego skated to a 7-4 win over Fredonia, Buffalo State edged out a 6-5 victory over Cortland and Geneseo was a 3-2 winner at Potsdam
Source: http://www.pressrepublican.com/0300_sports/local_story_305011549.html
