PLATTSBURGH — Plattsburgh State only added to Oswego's frustration Saturday night.

Vick Schlueter's goal 4:20 into overtime gave the Cardinals an exciting 5-4 win over the Lakers in the State University of New York Athletic Conference Men's Hockey Tournament championship game at the Stafford Ice Arena.

It was Plattsburgh State's third one-goal win over Oswego this season, with both contests at the Stafford Ice Arena being decided in overtime.

"I've said all along that it wasn't going to be easy," said Plattsburgh State head coach Bob Emery. "It's tough to beat a team like Oswego three times in one season.

"We wanted to equal their emotion at the start of the game. But, we weren't able to do so and they came out flying."

The Cardinals (24-1-2 overall) fell behind by 2-0 and 3-1 deficits in the game and never led until the game-winning goal.

The two teams entered the third period tied at 4-all and Oswego forced overtime by killing off a 5-and-3 skating disadvantage for a full two minutes, beginning at the 16:01 mark.

But, Plattsburgh State had the better of play in overtime and the game-winner was the result of some hard work in the Oswego end. The puck bounced in front of the goal and Schlueter was there to tap it into the net.

"We wanted to keep the game close because we felt our fitness would take over in the third period," Emery said.

It didn't start out well for the Cardinals, however, when Chris Laganiere scored at 5:11 and Eric Selleck at 7:51 of the first to give the Lakers (18-8-1) an early 2-0 lead.

Dan Sliasis' goal to the short side on a bad angle then pulled the Cardinals back to within a goal at the 8:59 mark.

Rich Zalewski put Oswego back up by two, at 3-1, with a low shot from straight on at 4:50 of the second.

But, Plattsburgh State struck back at 10:00 when Kyle VanderMale scored a short-handed goal after going in alone and wristing a shot over Oswego netminder Tim Potter.

"The VanderMale goal was a big one for us," Emery said. "He has been playing real well."

The Cardinals then tied it, at 3-all, off a nice passing play that resulted in Joey Wilson's power-play goal at 12:18.

The deadlock lasted less than two minutes, however, when Ryan Ellis beat Plattsburgh State goaltender Bryan Hince with a low slapshot for a power-play marker at 14:13 and a 4-3 Oswego lead.

It wasn't the best of nights for Hince, who allowed four goals on 30 shots.

"All year long, Hince has carried us," Emery said. "Tonight, we picked him up.

"But, Bryan did play well from the midway point of the game on and made all the saves."

The Cardinals knotted it, at 4-all, with 1:21 left in the second on Riley Hill's power-play goal. Hill used a burst of speed to break in front of the net and deked Potter to tie it.

Hill was chosen as the SUNYAC Tournament Most Valuable Player.

The all-tournament team consisted of Plattsburgh State's Ryan Corry, Wilson and Hince, along with Oswego's Zalewski and Selleck.

The Cardinals, who added to their school record of 19 wins in a row at home, get an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Tournament and will host a quarterfinal contest this coming Saturday.

Season ticket holders can purchase tickets for the game on Monday from noon-8 p.m. at the Plattsburgh State Fieldhouse. Tickets for the general public go on sale Tuesday from 4-7 p.m.

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Plattsburgh 5, Oswego 4, OT

Score by periods:

Oswego 2 2 0 0 — 4

Plattsburgh 1 3 0 1 — 5

First period- 1, Osw, Laganiere (Novak), 5:11. 2, Osw, Selleck, 7:51. 3, PSU, Sliasis (Wilson, Farrow), 8:59. Penalties- Burke, PSU (hooking), 12:08. McLaughlin, Osw (diving), 12:08. Rolls, PSU (tripping), 19:45.

Second period- 4, Osw, Zalewski (Musselwhite, Dormiedy), 4:50. 5, PSU, VanderMale shg (Corry, Greene), 10:00. 6, PSU, Wilson ppg (Farrow, Rolls), 12:18. 7, Osw, Ellis ppg (Laganiere, McLaughlin), 14:13. 8, PSU, Hill ppg (Rolls, Corry). Penalties- Corry, PSU (holding), 2:12. Willock, PSU (elbowing), 8:15. Novak, Osw (cross-checking), 10:30. Corry, PSU (hitting after whistle), 13:30. Mather, Osw (cross-checking), 16:36. Novak, Osw (hooking), 16:42.

Third period- no scoring. Penalties- Lozzi, Osw (charging), 11:47. Rolls, PSU (holding the stick), 12:15. Laganiere, Osw (hooking), 16:01. Potter, Osw (delay of game), 16:01.

Overtime- 9, PSU, Schlueter (VanderMale), 4:20.

Shots on goal:

Oswego 13 8 9 0 — 30

Plattsburgh 10 12 8 3 — 33

Goaltenders (shots-saves): Potter, Osw, 33-28. Hince, PSU, 30-26.

Powerplays (goals-opportunities): Oswego, 1-5. Plattsburgh 2-4.

Attendance: 1911.