Boxscore

OSWEGO, N.Y.  - The Plattsburgh State men's hockey team skated to a 3-2 win at the Campus Center Ice Arena Saturday night, defeating top-ranked Oswego to become back-to-back State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Champions. With the win, the Cardinals claim their 21st conference title and receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Despite a 12-5 Plattsburgh (19-4-4) advantage in the first period, neither team was able to light the lamp through the first 20 minutes of play.

Vick Schlueter and Kyle Taylor were whistled for back-to-back penalties just before the midway point of the second period, giving Oswego (22-3-2) a 5x3 power play for 1:21. The Lakers wasted no time capitalizing on the two-man advantage as Jon Whitelaw's shot went over Mathieu Cadieux's shoulder and hit the crossbar before finding the back of the net at the 9:15 mark. Paul Rodrigues assisted on Whitelaw's team-leading 19th of the year.

With 1:11 remaining in the middle period, Jared Docking evened the score with a power-play goal of his own. Docking's deflection sent the teams to the locker room tied at 1-1. Nick Jensen and Paul Puglisi were credited with assist on the goal.

Plattsburgh maintained its momentum early in the third period as Mike Grace put the Cardinals up 2-1 at 4:33 from Matt MacLeod. Less than four minutes later, Nick Jensen made it 3-1off the backhand. Kyle Kudroch picked up an assist on the eventual game-winner.

The two-goal cushion didn't last long though as Oswego scored seven seconds later when Cadieux was caught out of position and a centering pass deflected off a Plattsburgh skate and into the net. Kyle Badham was credited with the unassisted goal that made it 3-2.

Plattsburgh was able to hold on to the one-goal lead for the final 11 minutes which included a huge penalty kill with less than five minutes left in regulation.

Cadieux recorded 15 saves for Plattsburgh and improves to 16-4-3. Oswego's Andrew Hare turned away 24 shots in the loss. The Cardinals finished the night with a 27-17 edge on the shot clock.

Saturday's win snaps the Cardinals' seven-game winless streak against Oswego that had dated back to Nov. 2009.

Jensen and Cadieux were named to the SUNYAC All-Tournament Team. Grace was named Tournament Most Valuable Player. Oswego's Rodrigues and Zack Josepher and Buffalo State's Mike Zannella also received All-Tournament recognition.

The Cardinals now await their opponent in the NCAA Tournament, which will be announced Sunday at 9:30 p.m. in a live selection show that will be aired on NCAA.com. Plattsburgh will be making its fifth-straight appearance and NCAA-record 20th overall in the tournament.