PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - Freshman Mike Tota (Webster/Webster Schroeder) led nationally third-ranked Cortland with four goals an assist as the Red Dragons defeated Plattsburgh, 12-8, in SUNYAC men's lacrosse action Saturday afternoon. Cortland improved to 8-2 overall and 2-1 in the conference, while the Cardinals fell to 6-6 and 1-2.

Senior Conor Duffy (Vestal) and juniors Brian Krol (Niskayuna) and Brandon Misiaszek (New Hartford) scored two goals apiece, and sophomore Jay DiStefano (Huntington/Harborfields) and freshman Greg Wright (Irondequoit) each recorded a goal and two assists. Senior goalie Matt Hipenbecker (Mountain Lakes, NJ) made nine saves and collected six ground balls and sophomore Chris DeLuca (Sayville) won 12-of-16 faceoffs and recorded 10 ground balls.

Luke Weidlein led the Plattsburgh offense with three goals and an assist. Kyle Norchi also netted three goals, Ian Helmer and Patrick Wright chipped in with one goal each and Matt Maes had three assists. Goalie Matt Billia registered 21 saves and 16 ground balls.

Misiaszek gave Cortland a 1-0 lead at 13 minutes, 17 seconds of the opening quarter with an unassisted goal. After Helmer tied the game at 1-1, Krol gave the Red Dragons the lead for good just seven seconds later and Cortland led 2-1 after one. 

Cortland then outscored the Cardinals, 4-2, in the second quarter for a 6-3 lead at the half. Krol and Wright connected for man-up goals and Misiaszek and Tota scored unassisted goals for Cortland, while Weidlein and Norchi found the back of the net for Plattsburgh.

The team's split six goals in the third quarter and Cortland held a 9-6 lead heading into the final 15 minutes. Tota scored twice and DiStefano netted his goal for the Red Dragons, and Weidlein, Wright and Norchi each scored for Plattsburgh.

Forty-three seconds into the fourth quarter, Norchi made it a 9-7 game, but Duffy answered with back-to-back goals for Cortland at 8:56 and 8:03 to push the lead to 11-7. Weidlein made it 11-8 off a Maes assist at 4:25, but Tota gave Cortland back its four-goal lead with the final score of the game at 3:33.

The Red Dragons outshot the Cardinals, 48-27, held a commanding 55-35 advantage in ground balls and won 14-of-23 faceoffs. 
 

FINAL SCORE: Cortland 12, Plattsburgh 8

GAME SUMMARY:
Team                                               1     2    3    4        Final    
Cortland (8-2, 2-1 SUNYAC)       2    4    3    3            12            
Plattsburgh (6-6, 1-2 SUNYAC)  1    2    3    2            8

Scoring (Goals-Assists):

Cortland: Mike Tota 4-1, Conor Duffy 2-0, Brian Krol 2-0, Brandon Misiaszek 2-0, Jay DiStefano 1-2, Greg Wright 1-2, Chris DeLuca 0-1 
Plattsburgh: Luke Weidlein 3-1, Kyle Norchi 3-0, Ian Helmer 1-0, Patrick Wright 1-0, Matt Maes 0-3, Tom Cerny 0-1 

Goalkeepers:
Cortland: Matt Hipenbecker, 9 saves (8 GA in 60:00)
Plattsburgh: Matt Billia, 21 saves (12 GA in 60:00)

Shots: Cortland 48, Plattsburgh 27 
Ground Balls: Cortland 55, Plattsburgh 35
Clears: Cortland 22-of-25, Plattsburgh 21-of-29 
Faceoffs Won: Cortland 14, Plattsburgh 9 
Penalties: Cortland 4-3:30, Plattsburgh 4-3:30
Extra-Man Offense: Cortland 2-4, Plattsburgh 0-4