Courtesy of the Elmira College Sports Information Department

LAKE PLACID, NY - With the greatest prize in all of Division III hockey on the line, the Soaring Eagles (20-6-5) knew that they would have to give everything they had against a tough and very physical SUNY Plattsburgh (25-5-0) team Saturday evening at the 1980 Herb Brooks Memorial Arena in front of a crowd of 5,625 spectators.

The meeting between EC and Plattsburgh was the second of the season between the two, with Elmira earning a come from behind victory back in November, improving the all-time record to 37-34 with 3 ties between the two programs going into Saturday's match-up.

It would take less than two minutes into the game for the Soaring Eagles to strike first. With a shot from the blue line, Elmira was able to play puck into the Plattsburgh crease with Derrick Ryan '09 (Fournier, ONT -- Ottawa Jr. Senators) managing to sneak the puck by goaltender Bryan Hince.

Three minutes later the Soaring Eagles put up another notch on the scoreboard this time on the power-play with Rusty Masters '10 (Grafton, ONT -- Port Hope Predators) scoring on a tip which was initially shot in from defenseman Nicolas Dumoulin '09 (Prevost, QC -- St. Jerome Panthers).

Despite being down by two the Cardinals offense did not back down at all. At the midway point, Plattsburgh put its first dent on the scoreboard. As Elmira and Plattsburgh battled for the puck in front of EC goaltender Casey Tuttle '10 (Chelsea, ME -- Portland Jr. Pirates) Cardinals forward Dylan Clarke was able to pick up the loose puck and place it past Tuttle making it 2-1.

Following the goal, EC's Ryan was assessed a two minute penalty for holding the stick, putting the Soaring Eagles on their first penalty kill of the night. Going into the contest, EC's penalty-kill was ranked 10th in the nation with an 86.6% rating.

With only 8 seconds left in the Plattsburg's power-play third year forward Riley Hill was able to cut in front of Tuttle and divert the puck past him tying the game at 2-2.

The first period would come to close with the score dead even at 2-2. Plattsburgh managed to out shoot EC 10 to 8 in the first 20 minutes of play. Both teams netted a power-play goal and were each assessed one penalty a piece.

"I thought we came out ready to play in the first period, and played pretty well. I think Coach Emery called a great timeout and rallied his troops and started putting pressure on us (Elmira)," said Head Coach Tim Ceglarski who made his second final four appearance in his seven seasons at Elmira.

EC's penalty-kill would once again be put to the test this time less than 2 minutes into the second, with first year forward Rick Schrank '11 (Newmarket, ONT -- Newmarket Hurricanes) being called for high-sticking.

For the second time in the game, Plattsburgh power-play offense found the back of EC's cage, this time with 33 seconds left in the man-up opportunity. Scoring the goal was Clarke, his second of the night.

The Cardinals lead would not last however, as Stefan Schoen '09 (Arth, Switzerland -- Toronto Rattlers) tied the game up for the second time in the contest on a line drive shot which blew by Hince.

Unfortunately, the tying goal from EC would not last long as the red and white retook the lead with a rebound goal from Ward Smith.

After killing off their first penalty of the night, Elmira was given their second power-play chance following a Plattsburgh interference call. EC nearly gave up a shorthanded goal after a give away at the Cardinals blue line. Tuttle would come up big for his team deflecting the shot wide.

Plattsburgh would make it 5-3 on a goal from Andrew Willock with about five minutes left to play in the period following a successful penalty-kill from the Cardinals. Even with a last second shot on goal from Masters, the Cardinals would hold onto their 5-3 lead going into the second intermission.

No with only 20 minutes left in the contest, EC had to dig down deep if they were going mount a comeback. The Soaring Eagles had their chances throughout the first ten minutes but with excellent goaltending from Hince the Cardinals were able to preserve their two goal lead.

Plattsburgh sealed the victory on a Joey Wilson goal at 17:28 in the period. The win will now advance the Cardinals into Sunday afternoons Championship game. St. Norbert who defeated Norwich University by the score of 3-0 earlier in the day will be bidding for their first NCAA Title while the Cardinals will be looking for their third.

The loss will only be EC's fourth of the year, ending the 2007-08 season with an overall record of 20-4-5.