PLATTSBURGH — Most of the current Cardinals have never beaten Oswego, and they're eager to change that tonight.
Only four current players — seniors Kyle Taylor, Kyle Kudroch, Vick Schlueter and Matt MacLeod — were on the men's hockey team March 7, 2009, when Plattsburgh State last recorded a win in the heated rivalry. Since then, it has lost five straight to the Lakers.
That record bothers the Cardinals, who host Oswego and then meet fellow SUNY Athletic Conference opponent Cortland on Saturday.
"Oh, definitely. It's frustrating. It's our biggest rival," junior Patrick Jobb said. "They're a hell of a team, and it'd be nice to win one this weekend against them for sure. I've never beaten them, so hopefully this weekend's the weekend."
To turn things around today, the sixth-ranked Cardinals (5-2-1, 5-1 SUNYAC) will have to put the puck in the net, something they haven't done in 160 minutes and one second. They failed to score against Norwich or Middlebury during last weekend's PrimeLink Great Northern Shootout — the first time Plattsburgh had ever been shut out in consecutive games.
The Cardinals' last goal came in the second period Nov.19 against Geneseo.
Through its first six games, Plattsburgh had a healthy 4.67 goals-per-game average, and the recent drought hasn't changed coach Bob Emery's defense-first philosophy.
"No, I still believe it all starts and ends with defense," he said. "I'm hoping we can start getting some goals by accident."
Jobb added that the Cardinals haven't put any extra emphasis on offense in practice this week.
"I think we're just sticking to our game, what we've been doing all season pretty much," the forward said. "And just capitalizing on our chances, that's the main thing, I think.
"I don't think creating the chances is the problem; I think we just gotta bear down and make sure they go in."
At the other end of the ice, Mathieu Cadieux and Josh Leis each played one game in net last week, and Emery said he wasn't planning to name the starter for the Oswego game until today.
No. 2 Oswego (7-1-1, 5-0-1) has had to deal with an early setback in goal. After senior Paul Beckwith, last year's starter, was injured in the first game this season, junior Andrew Hare was pressed into duty. Hare, who appeared in two games last year, has a .923 save percentage and 1.94 GAA in eight games this season.
The Lakers beat Fredonia and Buffalo State two weeks ago and had last weekend off. The only smudge on their SUNYAC record is a 3-3 tie with Morrisville. Oswego is currently first in the conference with 11 points, and Plattsburgh is one point behind in second place.
Paul Rodrigues and Jon Whitelaw are tied for the team lead with 14 points. Rodrigues and Luke Moodie both have a team-high five goals.
"I know Oswego is probably the most opportunistic team we'll play all year," Emery said. "They can find the back of the net better than anybody. They're probably going to lead the nation in goals for.
"Hopefully we can just battle."
Cortland (3-6-1, 2-3-1) heads into the weekend winless in its last five.
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