Cortland Men’s Hockey faced a challenging battle last Friday as they clashed with SUNY Plattsburgh and succumbed to a 4-5 defeat. This marked the second encounter between the two teams in the current season, with Cortland suffering defeat on both occasions.
The initial matchup took place on December 1st, where Cortland lost 1-6 against SUNY Plattsburgh. Despite this setback, the Cortland team has maintained a 14-8-2 overall record throughout the season. The recurring encounters with SUNY Plattsburgh have underscored the competitive nature of these matchups, pushing Cortland to adapt and refine their strategies.
Ronan Mobley, a sophomore on the team, acknowledged the strength of SUNY Plattsburgh’s team and stated, “SUNY Plattsburgh is a top team.” Despite the ultimate loss, Mobley acknowledged and praised the team’s overall performance, emphasizing their resilience after conceding an early goal on Plattsburgh’s part. He pointed out the team’s offensive abilities, and spoke highly on their achievement of scoring three goals just within the first period.
The recent face-off against Plattsburgh showcased an increase in aggression from the Cortland team compared to the earlier stages of the season. The team showed noticeably more aggression this past Friday, and it clearly had an impact. Going from a loss of 5 goals to only a loss of 1 goal. The team scored their fifth goal only minutes before the game ended.
Andrew Clouden, a junior on the team, states, “The opposing team’s speed and aggressive forechecking were notable challenges. They applied a lot of pressure in our defensive zone, forcing quick decisions and limiting our time and space with the puck.” Clouden highlighted Plattsburgh’s ability to capitalize on turnovers and create scoring opportunities, keeping Cortland’s defense on constant alert.
In response to these challenges, the team had to adjust their style of play to keep pace. Sutter Donnegan, a senior player, provided insights into the strategic adjustments and stated, “I think we had a good strategy to play against them to start.” However, as Plattsburgh intensified their transition game, Cortland recognized the need for a more proactive defensive approach.
Donnegan further said “When they started to get more transition games we realized we had to make sure we had a forward high enough to get back on defense. Also just getting pucks on the net. We had some chances where we messed around with the puck too long and lost opportunities. When we started getting pucks on the net quickly, good things happened.”
While the recent loss against SUNY Plattsburgh presented its challenges, Cortland Men’s Hockey continues to evolve and refine their strategies, determined to bounce back stronger in the face of future competitions.