Cardinals primed for postseason

BY MIKAI BRUCE Staff Writer

The SUNY Plattsburgh baseball team is looking to make some noise this season and they have the talent to do so. With a clean slate, the Cardinals will be looking to bring a baseball title to the school.

The season is already underway with some nonconference games that are of little consequence for the playoff picture. The Cardinals currently stand at 1-1 after splitting a double header with Maritime College Feb. 26. Last season ended for the Cardinals with a quick trip to the SUNYAC playoffs, and this season the expectations have not wavered.

“Expectations: make a return trip to the SUNYAC playoffs. Hopefully have a long run in the SUNYAC playoffs,” Head Coach Sam Quinn-Loeb said.

These expectations do not come without the players to back it up.

“I’m excited to see Kyle Cremin, Alex Kornblau, Conner Gonzalski, Andrew Veit, Chris Santic and Sean Malamud play this year,” Quinn-Loeb said.

Cremin is a sophomore third baseman, Kornblau is a junior infielder, Gonzalski is a senior outfielder, Veit is a senior shortstop and right handed pitcher, Santic is a ju- nior left-handed pitcher and Malamud is a graduate student right-handed pitcher. The coach is excited about a lot of guys in their bullpen and believes in their ability to control the game from the pitching position. He also has a belief in the experience that this team has, which is important to playoff success. This team has a mixture of young talent and older, more experienced players that are needed to gut out tough wins. It is this combination that really enables teams to succeed, along with a coach like QuinnLoeb. Last season, he led the team to its first playoff berth in a decade.

“I expect us to be a legit contender to win the SUNYAC this year, that starts with making a playoff run again. Guys like Nick Cergol, Christian Ott and Sean Malamud will be key players for us as the season goes on,” pitcher Tyler Kohn said.

He highlighted Malamud like his coach did, so this leads to expectations for a standout season from Malamud. Both the players and the coaches share the same beliefs, so this will surely be wonderful for the team dynamic. A cohesive unit is important when you have championship aspirations.

“I expect us to do some damage and definitely build off of last year's suc-

RECREATIONAL & INTRAMURAL

cess,” Malamud said. “It’s tough to really say who will have the biggest impact because there’s a lot of dogs on this squad. Overall, it’ll take a collective team effort all season and I have no doubt in my mind that we’ll be one of the top teams in our conference.”

Malamud has such a high belief in the talent on this roster that he simply couldn’t choose specific players to highlight. It is clear that there are high hopes for this season and an extra level of comfortability with the roster. The Cardinals anticipate a second-straight playoff trip.

Email MIKAI BRUCE cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

MEMORIAL ATHLETIC GYM TO CLOSE MARCH 6 FOR RENOVATIONS, REOPEN IN AUGUST.

RECREATION GYM ON SECOND FLOOR WILL HOST ALL GYM EVENTS.

Friday, March 3: Cheerleading showcase at Memorial Hall 7-9 p.m.

Sunday, March 5: Intramural basketball playoffs at Memorial Hall 3-5 p.m.

Monday, March 6: Intramural basketball playoffs at Memorial Hall 7-9 p.m.

Tuesday, March 7: CoRec pickup indoor soccer at Memorial Hall 6-8 p.m. Intramural basketball championship at Memorial Hall 8-9 p.m.

Thursday, March 9: CoRec pickup indoor soccer at Memorial Hall 6-8 p.m.

Indoor

MHKY VS. GENESEO

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When it comes to anything in life, there is always room for improvement, even when at the highest peak. Montville was disappointed in his second place performance, but he still appreciated the trial.

“I’m grateful for the experience and ultimately tried my best, which is all the coaches ask for in any situation. In sports, you either win or lose and learn, and I’m definitely going to learn from this,” Montville said.

Mcdonough

Hockey

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Last Saturday’s matchup was the fourth time the Cardinals have faced the Kangaroos this season. Canton started goaltender Sierna Alvarez in all four games. Alvarez is one of the best goalies in the conference, finishing top-five in goalsagainst average, save percentage, saves and win percentage in each of the last two seasons.

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Ashley Davis, G 0.964

Alvarez has been a problem for Plattsburgh in the games they’ve faced her. In its three regular-season matchups, Alvarez averaged 42.7 saves, 2.19 goals against average and a 0.922 save percentage. The Cardinals got just one goal past her on Jan. 20. After Plattsburgh’s most recent regular-season game against Canton, Houle named Alvarez as one of the team’s strengths. She was named NEWHL Goaltender of the Year Feb. 28.

Krauseneck pointed to starting games hot as something the team could improve on. She said, though, that the experience makes the team better in its ability to come from behind. Houle agreed, but said the team would rather not be behind in the first place.

Plattsburgh forgot about both of these precedents on Saturday. The Cardinals struck first when Wall hit forward Nicole Unsworth on the left side, who then hit Olshansky in the slot for a goal. Just five minutes into the game, Plattsburgh had a lead that wouldn’t be responded to.

“She’s a top goalie and she played great tonight, but we were able to get to her early,” Houle said.

Montville, another senior runner, has been on the team since his first year and does not lack

“That takes a little wind out of their sails.”

The Cardinals finished the first period with two more scores after Krauseneck put one in from the slot and Schmelzer from the left circle. Schmelzer later left the game with a lower body injury and her status for next week’s game was undisclosed.

Plattsburgh’s commanding 3-0 lead proved insurmountable. After the Cardinals scored in the second period, the Kangaroos scored its first. Plattsburgh immediately responded with another. Canton drowned in Plattsburgh’s shot volume.

“The first shift sets the tone and that’s something that coach had mentioned in the locker room before,” Krauseneck said. “Taking over helped us out from the start, and then just retaining throughout the entire first period and then eventually through the whole game.”

The Cardinals stay at home next week for the NEWHL Championship. The No. 11 Cortland Red Dragons (20-6, NEWHL 14-4) come to the Ronnie B. with something no other NEWHL team can say: it beat Plattsburgh.

Plattsburgh lost its firstever NEWHL game to Cortland 0-1 Dec. 2, 2022. Since the conference’s inception in 2017, no other team can make that claim. The Cardinals have beaten the Red Dragons twice since that game, but the loss makes Cortland a less-than-ideal matchup for the conference title March 4 at 3 p.m.

“They’ve become a quick rival, for sure, and we know that they don’t like us. Most teams come in, everyone wants to beat us,” Krauseneck said. “We know it's going to be a game that we have to grind out.” in confidence or discipline. He knows he and his teammates must maintain focus for the AARTFC Championships coming up.

The SUNYAC competitions give Plattsburgh’s athletes a chance to go up against other athletes from conference opponents including Geneseo, Brockport, Cortland, Buffalo, Fredonia, Oswego and Oneonta. With Plattsburgh women placing sixth overall and Plattsburgh men placing seventh, it is no secret that the competition is real and intense.

Nevertheless, Head Coach Andrew Krug said he was pleased with his team's performances and the overall outcomes of the event. He wants the team now to focus on mak-

The Cards have won every NEWHL title game and nothing points to now being the end of its run. The team has its strongest record since 2019-20 and a dominant win against Canton primes Plattsburgh for another strong conference championship appearance.

Men

The No. 6 men’s team (195-2, SUNYAC 12-3-1) won 5-1 against the No. 14 Geneseo Knights (18-6-2, SUNYAC 11-4-1), punching its ticket to its first SUNYAC Championship under Head Coach Steve Moffat.

Five different Cardinals scored goals, including forwards Bennett Stockdale, Brendan Young, Jake Lanyi, Luk Jirousek and Carson Gallagher. Young and Jirousek both added assists for a team-leading two points.

Defenseman Jacob Modry tallied two blocks and a plus-minus of plus-three. The teams were almost deadlocked in shot totals, as Plattsburgh had 44 to Geneseo’s 42.

“Both teams are good defensively, really good offensively,” Moffat said. “We create chances, they create chances. It was a very good hockey game that could have went either way.”

First-year Eli Shiller got the look in the goal, saving 41 shots, a career high. In Plattsburgh’s two games this season against Geneseo, in which it went 1-0-1, Jacob Hearne started at goalie. Hearne’s season high also came against the Knights, when he saved 35 shots in a 2-2 tie Nov. 12, 2022.

“Hearne, he stood on his head both times we played them before,” Shiller said. “He’s a great goalie, I think I’m a great goalie. I think we ing adjustments for regionals. Krug is also thinking longterm with understanding the importance of continuing to build momentum for the outdoor season. The new season will include additional events, including javelin, hammer, discus and the steeplechase. Year in and year out it is a goal to raise the team performance and continue to be sharper in the small details that are necessary to win against their conference rivals in future competitions. The goal of constant improvement is a point of emphasis for SUNY Plattsburgh, and it always has been. could have him in net, me in net, it doesn’t matter.”

Plattsburgh’s victory ends Geneseo’s five-year streak as SUNYAC Champions. Over its last 10 matchups, the Cardinals are 3-5-3 against the Knights. This win was extra sweet.

"Last year, we had a little bit of a sour taste in our mouths," Jirousek said. “They’ve had it for the last four years. We’re not fans of them, so sending them home felt that much sweeter. They’re a fun team to play against.”

The crowd was the largest it had ever been this season, with 1,700 fans in attendance. It was also the most animated it had been. With every Knight slammed into the glass, the crowd popped. Fans harped on Geneseo goalie Matt Petizian and chants started.

“The crowd was unbelievable,” Young said. “It was probably the coolest experience playing in front of that crowd.”

Scoring opened 10 minutes into the first period, when forward Colin Callanan forced a turnover and passed it to Stockdale, waiting in the left circle. Stockdale shot a missile into the back of the net on Petizian’s glove side. Plattsburgh controlled the puck in the first period.

Plattsburgh struck again 10 minutes into the second period. Defenseman Matt Araujo got the puck to Jirousek in Geneseo territory before Jirousek passed it to Young on the right side. Young skated down the goal line and put it between Patizian’s legs to go up 2-0.

Geneseo responded two minutes later with a score of its own, ending the period 2-1 Plattsburgh.

Jirousek sealed the game with a dagger five min- utes into the third period.

Jirousek took the puck from a Knight before missing a shot. Young rebounded the puck, getting it to Jirousek who struck paydirt in the face of Patizian.

“I tried going short side. I didn’t expect that one to pop right in front of him, but it did,” Jirousek said.

“Younger took a stick and then it was just, ‘puck’s right there, goalie’s off to the side.’ Pretty easy tapin there.”

The Cardinals advanced to face the rival No. 12 Oswego Lakers (17-8-1, SUNYAC 12-4) in the SUNYAC Championship March 4 at 7 p.m in Oswego. The Lakers have been the Cardinals’ kryptonite this season, being the only SUNYAC team Plattsburgh has a losing record against at 1-2. Moffat called the upcoming game a “big challenge.”

“We’re just going to go into Oswego ready to go,” Young said. “We know what we’re up against. We know what it’s like to play in their rink.”

Oswego also handed Plattsburgh its biggest loss all season when it won 5-1 Nov. 4, 2022. The Cardinals returned the favor Jan. 20 when it won 6-1. Over its last 10 matchups, the Lakers hold a 8-2-1 advantage. Plattsburgh isn’t phased by its history and is excited at the prospect of beating Oswego at home.

“This has been a two-year process, kind of. We started it last year and we had a really good team last year and we didn’t get to where we wanted to. And this year we kind of just built on that,” Moffat said. “It’s a credit to the guys. They come in and they work every day.”