PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Albertus Magnus College men's ice hockey team opened the W.B. Mason Winter Classic with a thrilling 6-4 victory over the host Cardinals of Plattsburgh State on Friday evening at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena. The Falcons tallied six different goal scorers, while goalie Logan Bateman (Ottawa, Ontario) made a career-high 42 saves to pick up his eighth win of the season.
THE BASICS
FINAL: Albertus Magnus 6 | Plattsburgh State 4
RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (8-5-0) | Plattsburgh State (7-5-2)
BOX SCORE
HOW IT HAPPENED
Neither team scored a goal in the opening period, with the Falcons owning a 13-10 lead in shots after the first 20 minutes. Bateman was strong to start the game, stopping all 10 of the Cardinals' attempts that ended up on frame.
Plattsburgh broke the tie 3:18 into the second period on a strike from Paul Bryer. After gaining possession of the puck in the corner, Joey Mancuso tossed a pass to the front of the net, where Bryer scored to the top-right corner.
The Falcons did not take long to answer, needing just 2:16 to again even the score at 1-1. After stealing the puck in his defensive zone, Coleton Cianci (Kirkland, Quebec) executed a perfect give-and-go with Owen Allan (Ancaster, Ontario) to capitalize on a two-on-one opportunity for his first goal of the season.
Albertus took its first lead of the game at the 15-minute mark on a goal from Tim Manning (Concord, Ohio). The freshman netted his first career goal after he rebounded an Alex Gagnon (Montreal, Quebec) saved shot before lifting the puck high over the opposing keeper.
The Cardinals capped off an exciting period by tying the game at two in the final minute on the power play. Adam Tretowicz netted the goal by bringing the puck out of the corner and sniping the top corner on Bateman's glove side.
Plattsburgh continued scoring to begin the third period, as Bryer needed 1:31 to put the home squad ahead. Bryer sent a Kevin Weaver-Vitale pass over Bateman's stick-side shoulder to give the Cardinals a 3-2 advantage.
However, AMC did not stay down for long, as it capitalized on a 5-on-3 power play to tie the score at three 3:16 into the third period. After some passing between Gagnon, JJ Berdal (Wausau, Wis.), and Tyler Ignazzitto (Bath, Ontario), Gagnon fired a one-timer from the left side of the zone that snuck by the Cardinals' goalie.
The Falcons continued to thrive with an extra skater, as not even a minute later, Albertus took a 4-3 lead on a 5-on-4 power play. With the same line on the ice, Gagnon found Berdal at the blue line, where he fired a shot that Sam Anderson (Calgary, Alberta) tipped through the keeper's five-hole at the 4:11 mark.
Albertus added to its lead with its third goal in under two minutes, this time scoring at even strength at the 5:11 mark. This score came on the transition, as Cameron Weitzman (Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec) fed a streaking Anderson, who backhanded a shot by the goalie to make it a 5-3 lead for the Falcons.
The Cardinals answered by cutting the deficit to one, 5-4, 10:36 into the third. Thomas Maia capitalized on a loose puck in the crease, slapping a goal by Bateman.
Albertus iced the game with 1:20 left on the clock with an empty-net goal by Ryan Colwell (Plainedge, N.Y.) to make it a 6-4 Falcons' win. Cianci tallied the assist on the score, slapping a pass up the boards that Colwell gathered and scored to seal the victory.
Bateman picked up his eighth win of the season between the pipes by making a career-best 42 saves. Bateman has won eight of his last nine starts.
BETWEEN THE PIPES
Albertus: Logan Bateman (L, 8-3-0): Shots on Goal 46 | Goals-Against 4 | Saves 42
Plattsburgh State: Anthony Del Tufo (L, 7-5-2): Shots on Goal 29 | Goals-Against 5 | Saves 24
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- The Cardinals owned a 46-30 lead in shots in the game.
- Albertus was whistled nine times for 21 minutes in the box, while Plattsburgh served 19 minutes on eight penalties.
- The Falcons went 2-for-4 on the power play.
- The Cardinals scored once on their five extra-man opportunities.
- Colwell paced AMC with five shots on goal.
NOTEWORTHY
- Tonight's game was the first-ever meeting between the Falcons and Cardinals.
- Bateman tallied a career-best 42 saves.
- Bateman is up to eight wins on the season.
- Manning tallied the first goal of his young career.
- Anderson recorded his first career two-goal game.
- Cianci netted the first goal of his junior campaign.
- Zach Pellegrino (Madison, Conn.) made his first career appearance as a Falcon.
UP NEXT
The Falcons will return to the ice tomorrow evening for day two of the W.B. Mason Winter Classic to play King's (Pa.) College. The opening puck drop is slated for 5:30 p.m. at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena.
