Plymouth pushes past Cortland
The game played out like a fierce rivalry.
FINAL: Cortland 2, Plymouth State 5
Dragons fall in NCAA tournament
PICTURED: Plymouth State junior Brady Morrison blows by Cortland senior Nate Berke
PLYMOUTH, NH — Prior to Saturday, Cortland hadn’t faced Plymouth State in 15 years. The game played out like a fierce rivalry between familiar foes.
The teams combined for over two dozen penalties — most came in the second period. Midway through the middle frame is when the violence volcano erupted.
During a scuffle behind the Red Dragons’ net, Plymouth sophomore Payton Schaly ripped the helmet off Cortland senior A.J. Przystawski. The rink then became a wrestling mat as Przystawski landed a diving blow to Schaly’s head. Both players were tossed.
Off the ice, the theatrics continued: Schaly slashed his stick against the wall, and Przystawski — hearing boos from the home crowd — cradled his crotch in jest. The fans were amused by the gesture.
PICTURED: Cortland senior A.J. Przystawski jaws with the crowd
Heading into the final period, the Dragons found themselves down 2-1. Cortland would tie the game with a sliding score by sophomore Colby Seitz. Panthers’ goalie Kalle Andersson was furious because Seitz had barreled into the net like a freight train, causing the goal posts to be dislodged. After review, the score stood.
Three minutes later, more drama ensued in front of the Panthers’ net. Cortland sophomore Stephen Kyrkostas was whistled for goaltender interference after colliding with Andersson. Plymouth converted on the power play and regained the lead.
The Panthers would add a couple more late goals to make the score 5-2. The home fans waved goodbye to the Dragons as the game — and Cortland’s season — came to a close.
Hlasnick optimistic after Dragons ousted
Cortland expects to come back strong.
FINAL: Elmira 3, Cortland 1
Cortland expects to come back strong
PICTURED: Cortland junior Mia Hlasnick smiles at Alumni Arena
CORTLAND, NY — One of the Red Dragons’ top point scorers is keeping the glass half-full.
After falling to Elmira in the first round of the NCAA playoffs, junior Mia Hlasnick said the team was “just really excited” to be there. The game marked Cortland’s first-ever appearance in the national tournament.
Though they came up short, Hlasnick said the Dragons had several scoring chances. One came in the second period after a rebound in Elmira’s zone.
“Their goalie came out of nowhere and made a save with her stick,” she said.
Hlasnick adds scoring opportunities were plentiful this season, thanks in large part to Cortland’s younger players.
“They brought so much to the table for us,” she said. “The success that we’re building as a program is going to help us get even better players for the future.”
Cortland cages Cardinals in SUNYAC FINAL
Cortland hushed the crowd in a thrilling win.
FINAL (OT): Cortland 3, Plattsburgh 2
Dragons hush crowd in thrilling win
PICTURED: Cortland senior Geordan Buffoline and Plattsburgh junior Jack Ring hunt down the puck
PLATTSBURGH, NY — Rowdy Plattsburgh fans set the tone before the opening puck drop: in between thunderous claps, the student section roared “F**K—YOU—CORT—LAND.”
It was time to play hockey.
Early in the first period, Cortland senior A.J. Przystawski said hello with a monstrous hit. Plattsburgh senior Bennett Stockdale then replied by flattening a Cortland player against the boards. Bennett was penalized for the bone-crunching hit, but the Red Dragons couldn’t cash in on the power play.
The game stayed scoreless for most of the second frame, until Cortland sophomore Colby Seitz poked one between the pipes. The goal temporarily silenced the Plattsburgh crowd.
PICTURED: The Red Dragons smile and shout after winning their first-ever SUNYAC championship
At the tail end of the second period, drama ensued in front of the Dragons’ net. Cortland senior Nate Berke got whistled for cross-checking, which lit a fuse on the visitors’ bench. Cortland Head Coach Joe Cardarelli was beyond furious — slamming his hands on the boards and screaming at a referee. His anger was justified when Plattsburgh scored on the power play just seconds into the third period.
The score remained tied for the next 15 minutes, until Berke avenged the cross-checking penalty by driving the puck into the Cardinals’ net. Some disgruntled Plattsburgh fans started to exit. Reality was setting in.
Then, at the eleventh hour — a plot twist. Plattsburgh scored an empty-net goal, and a whirlwind of white rally rags energized the arena. The game was headed to overtime.
After the Zamboni glazed the ice, both teams traded scoring chances. But it was Cortland junior Anthony Bernardo who at last ended the game with a flick of the wrist. All the Cardinals could do was stare as the Dragons hollered and hurled their gloves into the air.
Dragons upset Cardinals in conference final
The Red Dragons put a damper on Plattsburgh’s day.
FINAL (OT): Cortland 2, Plattsburgh 1
Dragons rain on Plattsburgh’s parade
PICTURED: Cortland grad student Elena Eichmann protects the puck from Plattsburgh freshman Zsofia Pazmandi
PLATTSBURGH, NY — Two minutes into the game, the home crowd groaned when Cortland goalie Molly Goergen made a great kick save. The Plattsburgh faithful again grumbled during the second intermission, when Burghy the mascot pushed a center-ice shot wide right. But the Cardinals would experience ultimate disappointment in overtime, when Cortland grad student Elena Eichmann delivered the game-winning goal.
Filighera previews conference FINAL vs. Plattsburgh
The Red Dragons are no strangers to playoff pressure.
PUCK DROP: 3 PM, Sat. 3/2, Plattsburgh
Dragons to appear in SUNYAC Final
PICTURED: Cortland Head Coach Rick Filighera prepares in his office
CORTLAND, NY — The Red Dragons are no strangers to playoff pressure. On Saturday, Cortland will compete in the conference championship for the fourth time in five seasons. Head Coach Rick Filighera is expecting a close game against Plattsburgh.
“We know it’s going to be nip and tuck,” he said. “It’s really going to come down to us having composure, us executing on our penalty kills, and hopefully we’ll score a few more goals than them.”
To come out on top, the Dragons will have to dim Plattsburgh’s star forward Julia Massotta. The grad student has 36 points in 26 games this season. Filighera says he trusts his players to limit Massotta’s scoring chances.
“We play a very aggressive defensive zone coverage, so to control her, everybody’s got to do their job.”
Filighera believes the Dragons are playing their best hockey of the season. The team has lost just two games since early December.
“I like where we’re at,” he said. “I just feel good about this game.”