PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Dylan Clarke scored with 45 seconds left in regulation as nationally third-ranked Plattsburgh squeaked past Cortland, 3-2, in a SUNYAC contest. The loss snaps a seven-game unbeaten streak (six wins, one tie) for the Red Dragons, who are now 9-9-2 overall and 4-6-1 in the league. Plattsburgh improves to 18-2 and 11-0.

Junior Mike Mistretta (Buffalo/Northland College) made 41 saves for Cortland, which did not trail until the Cardinals' game-winner. Plattsburgh netminder Bryan Hince made 20 saves. Plattsburgh outshot Cortland 44-22, including a 25-5 margin in the third period.

Cortland took a 1-0 lead 2:04 into the game on an unassisted goal by sophomore Frank Rizzo (St. James/NY Bobcats), his 10th of the season. Plattsburgh tied the game 23 seconds later on a C.J. Tozzo shot off a rebound, with an assist credited to Mike Baccaro.

Cortland regained the lead only 1:41 later as freshman Greg Haney (Marcellus/National Sports Academy) scored off assists from freshman Graham Fallon (Endicott/Binghamton Jr. Senators) and junior Mike Maier (Rochester/Niagara Univ.). Plattsburgh knotted the game at 2-2 when Eric Satim scored off a Clarke assist with 5:40 remaining in the first.

Neither team scored again until Clarke's last-minute tally, which was assisted by Satim and Phil Farrow. Cortland successfully killed off all eight of Plattsburgh's power play opportunities, including a two-man advantage for more than a minute midway through the second period. Plattsburgh entered the game ranked in the top five nationally in Division III with a 32 percent power play success rate.

With the loss, Cortland drops to seventh in the SUNYAC standings at nine points with five league games remaining. The Red Dragons, however, are only one point behind sixth-place Geneseo and two points behind both Buffalo State and Potsdam, which are tied for fourth. The top six teams qualify for the SUNYAC playoffs.

Plattsburgh 3, Cortland 2

Score by periods:
Cortland     2-0-0    2
Plattsburgh    2-0-1    3

Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists):
Cortland: Frank Rizzo 1-0, Greg Haney 1-0, Graham Fallon 0-1, Mike Maier 0-1
Plattsburgh: Dylan Clarke 1-1, Eric Satim 1-1, C.J. Tozzo 1-0, Phil Farrow 0-1, Mike Baccaro 0-1

Saves: Mike Mistretta (Cortland) 41 saves (3 GA in 60:00); Bryan Hince (Plattsburgh) 20 saves (2 GA in 60:00)
Shots on Goal: Plattsburgh 4 (13-6-25), Cortland 22 (10-7-5)
Penalties: Cortland 11-22:00, Plattsburgh 6-12:00
Power Play: Cortland 0-3, Plattsburgh 0-8
Records after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 9-9-2, 4-6-1 SUNYAC; Plattsburgh (Cardinals) 18-2, 11-0 SUNYAC