Cortland cages Cardinals in SUNYAC FINAL

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.