February 26, 2025

Fourth-Seeded Plattsburgh Men's Ice Hockey Erases Three-Goal Deficit to Win 5-3 Over Fifth-Seeded Potsdam in SUNYAC First Round

Potsdam

8-14-4

Plattsburgh

15-10-1

Final

Potsdam 8-14-4

Plattsburgh 15-10-1

Plattsburgh Sports Information Department

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – After trailing 3-0 after a period of play and 3-1 entering the final period, the fourth-seeded Plattsburgh State men's ice hockey team took down fifth-seeded SUNY Potsdam 5-3 in a first round State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) matchup. Junior defenseman Lonan Bulger (Yellowknife, Northwest Territories/Hobart) led the comeback charge, scoring twice and adding two assists for a career-high four points.

Plattsburgh State improves to 15-10-1 and will advance in the SUNYAC Tournament and take on top-seeded No. 12 Cortland in a semifinal contest on Saturday, March 1 at 7 p.m., in what is a rematch of the 2024 SUNYAC Championship. Potsdam falls to 8-14-4 and is eliminated from the SUNYAC Tournament as they conclude their 2024-25 season.

Bulger, who came into the night with three points over 25 games in 2024-25, scored twice and assisted on two goals as the junior had a hand in all but one of the Plattsburgh scores. Jake Sacratini (Montreal, Quebec/AIC) tallied the empty netter to seal the win, as well as an assist, while first-year forward Patrick Cole (Lancaster, N.Y./Buffalo Jr. Sabres) had the game-winner late in the third period. Brody Spencer-Ha (Okotoks, Alberta/Drayton Valley Thunder) picked up his third goal of the season as he kick-started the Cardinal's rally in the third period. Jacob Hearne (Ennismore, Ontario/Toronto Jr. Canadiens) picked up the win in net, making 20 saves across 60 minutes.

Plattsburgh State finished the night 1-5 on the advantage while killing all three of the Bear's power play chances. After getting outshot 16-13 in the first period, the Cards won the shot battle 35-23. The Cardinals also dominated the face-off circle, winning 49 of the 77 face-offs, with Spencer-Ha leading the way with 17 wins in 25 total opportunities.

The first period was all Potsdam, as the Bears took 16 shots and scored three goals. Jack Loran gave his team the lead just 6:33 into the game, and Jeremy Quesnel followed with a goal at 11:56. Shortly after killing a Cardinal power play, Rocco Seery tallied his first career goal to put the Bears up with just over a minute left in the stanza.

In the second period, the defense of Plattsburgh was much improved as they allowed just five shots, allowing them a chance to crawl back into the game. On their second power play of the night, Bulger put the team on the board with just his second goal of the season, as he buried a shot from the right face-off circle through the five-hole, giving the Cards life. Kevin Weaver-Vitale (Toronto, Ontario/Markham Royals) and Shane Bondy (Sharon, Ontario/Markham Royals) each tallied assists on the play.

The 3-1 score remained into the third period, before a three-goal stretch in just under 10 minutes gave Plattsburgh State the lead back. The scoring began 4:52 into the third period, as Spencer-Ha rebounded a saved Sacratini shot on the doorstep and shoveled the puck past the Potsdam goalie to put his team down 3-2. Sacratini had the primary assist on the play, while Bulger added the secondary assist. Less than three minutes later, Bulger followed with his second goal of the night, going top shelf with a high glove side shot from the left face-off circle, tying the game at three goals apiece. Jagger Benson (Lynnfield, Mass/Cranbrook Bucks) had the primary assist, while Colin Callanan (Stony Point, N.Y./New York Apple Core) notched the secondary.

A brand-new game began with the tied score as the Cardinals' defensive effort turned up, allowing just two shots from Potsdam in the final period. The Cards nearly took the lead short-handed as a Spencer-Ha shot drew pipe on a two-on-one during a Bears' power play just around the halfway point of the final period.

Cole gave his team the lead with just under six minutes to go, as Spencer Bellina (Medina, Ohio/Chippewa Steel) found Blake Hall (Fort Erie, Ontario/Fort Erie Meteors) in the slot. Hall then gave a touch pass off to Cole on the doorstep, who then beat Potsdam goalie John Werber glove-side with a shoveled-in shot, giving Plattsburgh State the 4-3 lead after trailing for over 40 minutes. The goal was Cole's 10^th on the season, tying him for second on the team.

Down the stretch, the Cardinal defense remained strong, not allowing any good chances for Potsdam. With their goalie off the ice in the final minute, Sacratini sealed the Cardinal win after Bulger helped force a turnover, as his shot from within the Plattsburgh defensive zone found the back of the net.

Werber made 31 saves in over 59 minutes of action, taking the loss for Potsdam.