PLATTSBURGH — Neumann College wouldn't go away Saturday night.

The Knights, who battled back from three one-goal deficits, got a goal from Bill Foster 2:35 into overtime to stun Plattsburgh State, 5-4, in the NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey Tournament quarterfinals at the Stafford Ice Arena.

The win sends Neumann (19-9-2) into this coming weekend's Final Four in Lake Placid, while the top-ranked Cardinals (24-2-2), who made too many defensive miscues, had a great season come to a disappointing end.

"It's hard to sit here and talk about it, but we have to take it as a learning lesson," said Plattsburgh State head coach Bob Emery.

"We possessed the puck maybe 2-1, but the big thing was we couldn't get the second goal to go up by two."

"We play a don't-quit style — everyone contributed," said Neumann head coach Dominick Dawes. "These guys are resilient beyond imagination.

"We just focused on doing all of the little things. Playing on the road doesn't phase these guys. It's fun playing on the road. That's what makes a team a team."

The Cardinals took a 2-1 lead into the third period before Kyle Casey scored on a rebound off a three-on-one down low to pull the Knights even, at 2-all, at 6:55.

Plattsburgh State netminder Bryan Hince, who had a difficult time of it at times Saturday night, did make a superb glove save on Erik Stoyanvich's breakaway following a Cardinal turnover with 7:33 left to preserve the deadlock.

And, then at 14:12, Joey Wilson backhanded a shot between the pads of Neumann goaltender Ross MacKinnon to put the Cardinals back on top, at 3-2.

Just 10 seconds later, however, the Cardinals lost the puck in front of Hince and Casey was there to pull the Knights back even.

"We went up 4-3 and then the puck bounces off our skate," Emery said. "They pick it up and the rebound goes in.

"But, you make your breaks."

The game then went into overtime and Plattsburgh State had the better of play before Neumann got a two-on-one down low and Bill Foster scored on a rebound to give the Knights the victory.

Neumann grabbed an early lead at 7:24 of the first period when Hedden beat Hince with a low shot from inside the slot from an angle.

But, the Cardinals tied it at 14:37. A Plattsburgh State shot bounced back in front of the net and Phil Farrow sent a backhander up top.

Farrow added his second goal of the game, on the powerplay, at 8:49 of the second to give the Cardinals a 2-1 edge. Farrow's wrister from the slot beat MacKinnon high on the far side.

The Knights then knotted the score, at 2-all, at 10:09. Foster, following up on his own shot, beat Hince to the short side on a rebound.

Once again, however, Plattsburgh State went back in front, this time on Wilson's first of two goals, at 14:23 of the second. A shot was blocked in front of the Neumann net, but Wilson wristed the puck home to give the Cardinals a 3-2 advantage.

Plattsburgh State finished with a 29-27 shot edge, with MacKinnon making 25 saves and Hince, 22.

"I'm proud of the team," Emery said. "The leadership was there night in and night out. It was there tonight, too.

"But, our defense could have been tighter."

"Plattsburgh is an amazing hockey team," Dawes said. "We knew what we were getting into.

"But, we're good, too, and we earned our way."

It was only the second meeting ever between Neumann and Plattsburgh State, with the Knights winning both games in overtime.

—

Neumann 5, Plattsburgh 4, OT

Score by periods:

Neumann 1 1 2 1 — 5

Plattsburgh 1 2 1 0 — 4

First period- 1, Neu, Hedden Casey). 7:24. 2, PSU, Farrow (Corry, Greene), 14:37. Penalties- Gardner, Neu (holding), 5:08. Rolls, PSU (slashing), 9:11. Farrow, PSU (diving), 18:12.

Second period- 3, PSU, Farrow ppg (Rolls, Smith), 8:49. 4, Neu, Foster, 10:09. 5, PSU, Wilson (Willock, Corry), 14:23. Penalties- Hall, Neu (hooking), 7:08. Gardner, Neu (hooking, 10-minute misconduct), 10:30. Gooch, Neu (hitting from behind), 15:41.

Third period- 6, Neu, Casey (Hedden, Ward), 6:55. 7, PSU, Wilson (Corry, Dennis), 14:12. 8, Neu, Casey (Hedden, Ward), 14:22. Penalties- Willock, PSU (hitting from behind), 4:48. Neu (too many men), 18:58.

Overtime- 9, Neu, Foster (Stoyanovich, Schrock), 2:35. Penalties- none.

Shots on goal:

Neumann 9 5 12 1 — 27

Plattsburgh 6 11 8 4 — 29

Goaltenders (shots-saves): MacKinnon, Neu, 29-25. Hince, PSU, 27-22.

Powerplays (goals-opportunities): Neumann, 0-3. Plattsburgh, 1-5.

Attendance: 1798.