PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - The nationally top-ranked Plattsburgh men's hockey team scored the game's last two goals and defeated Cortland, 5-3, Saturday night in SUNYAC action at Stafford Ice Arena. The Red Dragons fell to 5-6-1 overall and 3-4-1 in the conference, while the Cardinals improved to 9-0-2 and 7-0-1.

Senior Mike Maier (Rochester/Niagara University) led Cortland with a goal and an assist. Sophomore Jarrett Gold (East Setauket/NY Bobcats) and freshman Ryan Markell (Columbus, OH/Ohio St.) each added a goal, and juniors Patrick Palmisano (Ann Arbor, MI/Bay State Breakers) and Frank Rizzo (St. James/NY Bobcats) collected one assist apiece. Sophomore goalie Dan Jewell (Medford/National Sports Academy) made 33 saves.

Dylan Clarke scored four points on three goals and an assist for the Cardinals. Riley Hill added two goals and Joey Wilson contributed two assists. Goalie Chris Molinaro stopped 21 shots.

Maier gave the Red Dragons a 1-0 lead at eight minutes, 50 seconds on the opening period on an unassisted goal with the teams skating four aside. Clarke tied the score just 29 seconds later also with the teams each down a skater. Clarke gave the Cardinals a 2-1 lead at 11:08 with a power-play goal, but Markell tied the game at 2-2 at 17:26. Hill then netted a power-play goal with 52 seconds left in the period for a 3-2 advantage.

The Red Dragons pulled even again at 12:55 of the second period when Maier and Palmisano set up Gold's score. Hill tallied the game-winner five minutes later for Plattsburgh. Clarke added an insurance goal, his third score of the game, early in the third period and the Cardinals held on for the win.

Plattsburgh 5, Cortland 3

Score by periods:
Cortland        2-1-0        3
Plattsburgh   3-1-1        5

Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists):
Cortland: Mike Maier 1-1, Jarrett Gold 1-0, Ryan Markell 1-0, Patrick Palmisano 0-1, Frank Rizzo 0-1
Plattsburgh: Dylan Clarke 3-1, Riley Hill 2-0, Joey Wilson 0-2, Dan Sliasis 0-1, Eric Satim 0-1, Kyle Kudroch 0-1, Phil Farrow 0-1

Saves: Dan Jewell (Cortland) 33 saves (5 GA in 60:00); Chris Molinaro (Plattsburgh) 21 saves (3 GA in 58:57), Empty Net 0 GA in 1:03
Shots on Goal: Plattsburgh 38 (13-8-17), Cortland 24 (11-5-8)
Penalties: Cortland 13-26:00, Plattsburgh 7-14:00
Power Play: Plattsburgh 2-12, Cortland 0-6
Records after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 5-6-1, 3-4-1 SUNYAC; Plattsburgh (Cardinals) 9-0-2, 7-0-1 SUNYAC