PLATTSBURGH — Connor Gorman picked up
where he left off last week, and Plattsburgh State
weathered a string of third*period penalties to hold on
for a SUNY Athletic Conference men’s hockey
victory Friday.
Gorman started off with a hat trick in the first period
to help the Cardinals take a 4*1 lead, and they ended
the night with a 4*3 victory over Brockport at Stafford
Ice Arena.
“
We did what we (had to) do to win the game, and I
think that’s the most important thing to take out of it,”
Plattsburgh coach Bob Emery said. “We can’t be
spending that much time in the penalty box, myself
included. We gotta learn from the game, obviously.”
No. 8 Plattsburgh (14*4*1, 10*1 SUNYAC) hosts
Geneseo today.
Brockport trimmed its deficit to 4*2 in the second period and had some good opportunities in the
third as the Cardinals paraded to the penalty box.
Plattsburgh was whistled for seven penalties in the
period, including a bench minor for unsportsmanlike conduct after Emery said something to the
officials.
The Cardinals killed off a 5*on*3 that started 5:35 into the period, but the Golden Eagles capitalized
the next time they had a two*man advantage. James Ryan sent the puck over a lunging Brady
Rouleau at 12:38 for his third goal of the game. All three scores came on the power play.
Plattsburgh committed two penalties in the last three*and*a*half minutes, and Brockport (9*8*1, 4*5*
1) pulled its goalie at the end. But the Golden Eagles couldn’t get the equalizer.
“
Obviously a lot of penalties isn’t good for us, but our penalty*killers did an unbelievable job,”
Gorman said. “Ballsy (Luke Baleshta), Radi (Michael Radisa), Brento (Alex Brenton), Tooms
(Connor Toomey) and Cass (Michael Cassidy) just getting it done for us. Blocking shots and helping
us out.”
Brockport finished 3* for *8 on the power play.
Rouleau, who made his second straight start, stopped 21 shots.
Spencer Finney, who usually
alternates games with Rouleau, is out with an ankle injury.
“Brady looked great (Friday),” Gorman said. “I mean he’s a great goaltender, obviously, so we have
faith in both goalies. Hopefully Spence is back pretty quick, but we’re all confident in Brady.”
Gorman almost single*handedly supplied Plattsburgh’s offense in the first period. He put in his first
goal at 10:30 and a few minutes later took a feed from Dillan Fox and lifted it high for a 2*0 lead.
Brockport interrupted the Connor Gorman Show with a tally by Ryan at 15:34. But then Gorman
skated in and put the puck past Aaron Green a third time.
The junior forward had three goals in Plattsburgh’s first 17 games. He netted two last Friday against
Potsdam and now has eight, which is a career high and makes him the team leader.
Gorman credited Kevin Emmerling, Fox and Preston Kaye with making good plays to get him the
puck.
Brenton added a power*play goal late in the period on a shot from the left circle.
Ryan pulled the Golden Eagles closer with a rebound goal in the middle of the second. Although
Plattsburgh easily outshot Brockport in the first and third periods, the teams were even at six shots
apiece in the second.
“I thought in the second period we played pretty well,” Emery said. “We got some quality shots on
net, but we didn’t get ourselves around the net to get those dirty goals.”
Green finished with 34 saves.
Geneseo will visit Stafford tonight after being surprised by Potsdam 1*0 on Friday.
Plattsburgh State 4,
Brockport 3
Brockport 1 1 1 — 3
Plattsburgh 4 0 0 — 4
1, PSU, Gorman (Emmerling), 10:30. 2, PSU, Gorman (Fox), 13:56. 3, Brock, Ryan
(Nieuwendyk, Kangas), 15:34 (pp). 4, PSU, Gorman (Kaye), 17:11. 5, PSU, Brenton (Taff,
Hermans), 18:44 (pp). Penalties: PSU, Popp (interference), 14:43. Brock, Nieuwendyk (hooking),
18:16. PSU, Baleshta (cross*checking), 19:06. Brock, Hurlimann (interference), 19:06.
First periodSecond
period* 6, Brock, Ryan (Luker), 10:48 (pp). Penalties: Brock, DeFazio (tripping), 2:52.
Brock, Taylor (slashing), 6:44. PSU, Botting (interference), 9:02. Brock, Taylor (high*sticking),
13:54.
7, Brock, Ryan (Nieuwendyk, Luker), 12:38 (pp). Penalties: PSU, Popp (holding),
5:14. PSU, Calabrese (holding), 5:35. PSU, Taff (tripping), 8:50. PSU, Radisa (holding the stick),
11:09. PSU, bench (unsportsmanlike), 11:09. PSU, Baleshta (interference), 17:32. Brock, Parks
(cross*checking), 19:31. PSU, Kaye (boarding), 19:31.
Third periodShots
on goal:
Brockport 10 6 8 — 24
Plattsburgh 18 6 14 — 38
Goaltenders (shots *saves): Green, Brock, 38*34. Rouleau, PSU, 24*21.
Power play (goals* opportunities): Brockport 3*8, Plattsburgh 1*4.
Attendance:
1,739.
Email Courtney Lewis: clewis@pressrepublican.com
Twitter: @sportsCourt