Tough weekend for Cardinals

By JOHN CORYER
Staff Writer

December 07, 2007 04:00 am

— PLATTSBURGH -- Plattsburgh State head men's hockey coach Bob Emery likes to say there's always a bull's eye on the back of his team.
That bull's eye is getting bigger these days.
The Cardinals, who are 11-1 overall and 9-0 in State University of New York Athletic Conference play, now find themselves tied with Elmira College at the top of the NCAA Division III poll.
Plattsburgh State, which closed out an undefeated first semester in conference play last weekend with home victories over Brockport (6-1) and Geneseo (5-4 overtime), close out the first half this weekend with a couple of non-conference games on the road.
The Cardinals play at Division III power Middlebury College tonight at 7 p.m. and then Williams College on Saturday at 7 p.m.
"The bull's eye is definitely getting bigger," said Plattsburgh State head coach Bob Emery. "Being ranked No. 1 will get Middlebury even more emotionally ready to play.
"The ranking is good for recruiting and it's good to be recognized by your peers.
"But we have to make sure we're emotionally ready to play. Middlebury has a great tradition the last 12 years and if we can't be ready to play them, we have a problem."
And while the Cardinals have been successful this season, last Saturday's overtime win over the Knights showed Plattsburgh State still doesn't always put together three solid periods of hockey.
In fact, the Cardinals needed a huge comeback to make up for a less than stellar first two periods.
"We played our two worse periods in two years against Geneseo," Emery said. "But, we got back to our style of play in the third period and got the puck down low. We showed what we can do.
"This is a big weekend for us and we have to put everything behind us. Middlebury is now. It's going to be a real tough back-to-back weekend on the road and our great run so far this season came turn into just a good run if we don't get the job done."
The Cardinals, who have everyone healthy, have nine players with 10 points or more on the season, led by junior forward Riley Hill (8-10-18), freshman forward Dylan Clarke (8-7-15) and sophomore defenseman Ward Smith (4-11-15).
Freshman Bryan Hince (9-1, 1.88 gaa) has done the vast majority of the work between the pipes, while freshman Simon LeBlanc (2-0, 2.00 gaa) has played two games in net.
"Our goal is always to get better in the second semester," Emery said. "Other teams will get better and we have to continue to do so."
Middlebury 3-2-1 overall.
Last weekend at home, the Panthers skated to a 3-2 victory over Salem State on Friday before dropping a 3-1 decision to Southern Maine on Saturday.
Middlebury is being led in scoring by freshman defenseman Chaz Svoboda, sophomore forward Charlie Townsend (3-2-5) and senior forward Mickey Gilchrist (1-4-5).
Williams, also playing at home last weekend, skated to a 4-all overtime tie with Southern Maine on Friday and then a 4-2 victory over Salem State on Saturday.
Senior forward Brandon Jackmuff (4-3-7) and sophomore forward Alex Smigelski (3-3-6) are the leading scorers for the Ephs.