Cardinal skaters on road again

By JOHN CORYER
Staff Writer

November 14, 2008 07:39 am

— PLATTSBURGH -- This isn't your usual Brockport State team the Plattsburgh State men's hockey team will be skating against this evening.
The Cardinals, 4-0 overall and 3-0 in the State University of New York Athletic Conference, head back on the road for conference games versus Brockport and then Geneseo the following night.
The Golden Eagles are off to a 3-1 overall start and 2-0 mark in SUNYAC play. They own a 3-0 victory over Lebanon Valley, a 5-2 win over Morrisville and an impressive 7-2 rout at Geneseo last weekend.Brockport's only loss thus far was a 3-2 decision at Hobart.
Against Geneseo, Brockport scored five goals in the second period for a commanding 7-1 advantage after two.
"Brockport is off to the best start in their hockey history," said Plattsburgh State head coach Bob Emery. "Their only loss is by one goal to a team that went to the NCAA (Division III) Tournament last year. They usually play us tough at their place.
"The key is that they have an outstanding goaltender (Todd Sheridan) and they will play low-scoring games." Sheridan is currently 3-0, with a 1.33 goals-against-average.
The Cardinals are averaging just under six goals a game in winning their first four contests and will provide a test for the improved Golden Eagles.
"We're going to get our share of shots on goal, but we need to play good defense," Emery said.
Emery is pleased his team is unbeaten thus far, but wasn't expecting anything else.
"We've played only one top 10 opponent so far and not being 4-0 would have been borderline disaster for us," he said. "We expect a tough weekend on the road. Anything less than two wins will be unacceptable. We can't accept losing."
The Cardinals have 14 players with two or more points on the season, led by defenseman Nick Rolls (1-8-9). Goaltender Bryan Hince has won all four of his starts, to go along with a 2.51 gaa.
Geneseo, the Cards' opponent on Saturday night, is currently 5-2 overall and 1-1 in the conference.
The Ice Knights defeated Buffalo State and Cortland to capture the SUNYAC Challenge to begin the season, split a pair of games with Neumann, defeated Lebanon Valley and then lost at home last weekend to Brockport.
This weekend's games are the second and third for Plattsburgh State on what will be a six-game stretch on the road.
The Cardinals will be without the services this weekend of defenseman Ward Smith, who remains out with an injury.