GAME SUMMARY
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. -- Fredonia State's upset bid fell short Friday with a 3-2 overtime loss to the nationally ranked Plattsburgh Cardinals in SUNYAC men's hockey.
The Blue Devils rallied from a 2-0 deficit on third-period goals by Stephen Castriotta (Bellport) and
Mat Hehr (Sherwood Park, Alberta).
Plattsburgh averted the home loss on Ryan Craig's second goal of the game. It came at 1:12 of overtime and enabled the Cardinals, ranked No. 3 in NCAA Division III by USCHO.com, to improve to 14-2-4 overall and 9-1-1 in the SUNYAC.
Fredonia State sophomore goaltender
Mark Friesen (Calgary, Alberta) made 36 saves. The loss ended the Blue Devils' four-game winning streak. They fell to 10-7-3 overall and 5-4-3 in the conference.
Plattsburgh took a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal by Ryan Craig. The Cardinals worked the puck side to side to Craig stationed in front of the net. He tipped the puck over Friesen's shoulder at 14:44.
Jared Docking added to the Plattsburgh lead with a short-handed goal at 12:47 of the second period. After his teammates kept the puck pinned and eventually cleared it out of their end, Docking skated up ice where he fired a slapshot past Friesen.
Castriotta cut the deficit in half with his seventh goal of the season at 2:52 of the third period. Following a 3-on-2 rush, Bradley Nunn (Stony Brook) took a shot which rebounded to Castriotta.
Hehr's game-tying goal came with 1:48 remaining. The play began when the puck was slid into the shot, where it deflected off a skate. A Plattsburgh player tried to clear the puck, yet whiffed, and Hehr converted the opportunity while stationed to the side of the net.
The Cardinals nearly won the game in regulation, yet hit a post with one second remaining. They then pressed the action in the overtime. Following an offensive end faceoff, Mark Constatine spun and fired the puck on goal. The rebound bounced to Craig, who was overcovered alongside the weak side post.
The Blue Devils travel to Potsdam when they meet the Bears at 7 p.m. Saturday.
