(
BOX SCORE)
FREDONIA, N.Y. -- Plattsburgh earned an important two points Friday with a 3-1 SUNYAC victory over Fredonia State at a jam-packed Steele Hall Ice Arena.
Kyle Kudroch's goal with 2:06 left broke a 1-1 tie as the Cardinals improved to 8-7-0 in the SUNYAC, 16-7-1 overall, and locked down no worse than fifth place in the final standings.
Dylan Clarke scored an empty net goal to complete the scoring.
The Blue Devils dropped to 6-8-1 in the conference and 11-12-1 overall. They can finish no higher than sixth in the final standings, meaning they will open the SUNYAC Tournament on the road.
The teams played even hockey through the first two periods with only one goal to show their efforts. It came at 19:04 of the first period by Plattsburgh's Dan Sliasis.
The capacity crowd, on hand for the fifth annual Pink the Rink, finally had something to cheer about midway through the thyird period.
Mat Hehr scored a power-play goal at 9:44 of the third period on a set up from
Bryan Ross and
Mitch Kulikoski.
The Blue Devils were back on the power play a short while later but lost the man-advantage after taking a penalty of their own. The put the Cardinals on the power play which the Blue Devils subsequently killed off.
That set the stage for Kudroch's goal, the end result of a 3-on-2 Plattsburgh rush out of their defensive end. Vick Schlueter and Barry Roytman earned assists.
Mark Friesen made 20 saves for Fredonia State. Plattsburgh's Ryan Williams was credited with 22 saves.
The Blue Devils close out their regular season next Saturday, Feb. 19, when they visit Morrisville State, followed by a first-round SUNYAC Tournament game Feb. 23.
