Plattsburgh (6) with the swipe and steal of the ball on Saranac's (12) as he cut to the middle. The Saranac Spartans picked up a key Champlain Valley Athletic Conference victory Tuesday evening, defeating the Plattsburgh Hornets 2-0 in boys soccer action. Saranac wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. Just four minutes into the match, Nolan Hamel found the back of the net to give the Spartans an early 1-0 advantage. The goal set the tone for a strong first-half effort by the visitors, who controlled play and kept creating chances. The Spartans added to their lead in the 35th minute when Hamel delivered a deep strike for his second goal of the game. The tally gave Saranac a comfortable 2-0 cushion heading into halftime. The second half featured solid defending from both sides. While each team generated chances in the attacking third, neither side capitalized as the defenses and goalkeepers stood firm. Saranac successfully protected its lead for the final 40 minutes to secure the shutout victory. With the win, the Spartans improved to 3-2 on the season and will look to carry that momentum into their next matchup on the road against Northeastern Clinton. Plattsburgh fell to 3-2 and will try to rebound Thursday when the Hornets take on crosstown rival Beekmantown. Gallery

Saranac's (17) drives down the sideline and takes to the net for a scoring chance. Gallery

Lake Placid's Ellie Shipman (4) with the set at the net to get the oncoming kill ready. PLATTSBURGH — The Plattsburgh Hornets opened their home schedule in impressive fashion, defeating Champlain Valley Athletic Conference rival Lake Placid 3-1 in a hard-fought volleyball match. The Blue Bombers came out determined to pull off the upset, jumping out to an early five-point lead in the opening set. Plattsburgh responded by steadily chipping away at the deficit before rallying late to claim a narrow 25-23 victory and take a 1-0 lead in the match. Lake Placid answered in the second set. Although the Hornets got off to another strong start, the Blue Bombers stayed within striking distance and eventually took control down the stretch. Their effort paid off with a 25-20 win, evening the match at one set apiece. The momentum shifted back to Plattsburgh in the third set. The Hornets stormed out to a 7-0 lead and never looked back. Lake Placid battled to stay in the set, but Plattsburgh maintained its advantage and secured a 25-17 victory to move ahead 2-1 and put itself one set away from the win. In the fourth set, the Hornets wasted little time taking command. Plattsburgh raced out to a 7-1 advantage and controlled play the rest of the way. The Blue Bombers attempted to mount a comeback, but the Hornets held firm and closed out the match to earn the 3-1 victory. With the win, Plattsburgh improved to 2-0 early in the season, while Lake Placid dropped to 0-3. The Hornets will look to build on their strong start as they continue CVAC play, while the Blue Bombers will search for their first victory of the season. Gallery

Plattsburgh's Azah Marsh drops to knee to bump the return sent by the Blue Bombers to get the play started. Gallery

Plattsburgh's Ryan Colburn (13) takes it around the corner on the 92-yard punt return for the touchdown. Plattsburgh, NY-It was the opening weekend of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association football season, and the Plattsburgh Hornets made a statement in their season opener, rolling to a convincing 45-0 victory over the Malone Huskies in non-sectional action. The Hornets wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. At the 10:35 mark of the first quarter, Ryan Colburn electrified the crowd by returning a punt 92 yards for a touchdown, giving Plattsburgh an early 6-0 lead. Plattsburgh continued to control the game as Colden Johnson scored on a 2-yard touchdown run later in the opening quarter. The successful conversion pushed the lead to 14-0. Johnson struck again in the second quarter, finding the end zone from short yardage at the 6:53 mark to extend the Hornets' advantage to 22-0. That score would stand as the final points of the first half as Plattsburgh took a commanding lead into the break. The Hornets picked up right where they left off in the third quarter. Cooper Holland connected on a 13-yard touchdown pass with 3:08 remaining in the quarter to increase the lead to 29-0. On Malone's next possession, Plattsburgh's defense got in on the scoring by tackling the Huskies quarterback in the end zone for a safety, making it 31-0. Later in the third quarter, Johnson recorded his third rushing touchdown of the day, breaking free for a 14-yard score at the 6:05 mark to push the lead to 38-0. Plattsburgh capped off the scoring in the fourth quarter when Garrison Rodriguez powered in from 8 yards out with 4:13 remaining, sealing the 45-0 victory. Johnson led the Hornets offensively with 63 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Plattsburgh improves to 1-0 and will now prepare for sectional play against the Moriah Vikings. For Malone, Mason Perrea was a bright spot, carrying the ball five times for 35 yards. The Huskies fall to 0-1 and will look to rebound when they open sectional play against the Ogdensburg Blue Devils.

Malone's Jake Riley (20) takes it around the edge with the stiff arm on the defender for the nice gain.

It would be a matchup between the top 2 teams in Section VII Boy's Hockey as the #1 Beekmantown Eagles and the #2 Plattsburgh Hornets from the Ronald B Stafford Ice Arena in front over 1,100 fans the bigest attendances for the chamionship in years with the winner getting a berth in the New York State Division 2 State tournament and the winner getting the #5 Malone Huskies back here on Saturday March 7th. The Beekmantown Eagles would be opening the goal of the game at the 9:11 mark of the first period from the quicker wrister off the stick of Mason Carter, with Jacobey Weeden and Jackson Deyo picking up the assist on the lone goal of the period to end the first 1-0 Eagles. The Hornets would come out buzzing in the second period and get the equalizer at the 1:41 mark of the second period when Westen Studley would light the lamp with help from Jacob Wheelin and Colby Chase. The Eagles would have an answer, though, at the 5:20 mark of the period when Edward Sweenor would beat Owen Chapple glove side to retake the 2-1 lead with thanks to Braeden Nephew and Evan Bruyette, and that's where the scoring would stop for the second period. The Eagles would extend their lead to 3-1 at the 8:36 mark of the third period when Mason Carter would get his second of the night with help from Pryce Parker and Jack Rovers to give them the big two-goal lead. The Hornets would answer back quickly, though, just 25 seconds later, when Alex Hanshaw would beat Jack Bell to make it a 3-2 game down the stretch. The defense for the Eagles would stand strong down the stretch, hold off the Hornets' swarm, and secure the 3-2 win for the championship. In a championship effort for the Eagles, Jack Bell would make 23 saves as they won the Section VII title and will meet up with the #5 Malone Huskies on March 7th for a chance at the trip to Buffalo and the final. As for the Hornets, Owen Chapple would make 25 saves as their season comes up just short of the title. Gallery

Plattsburgh's Sam Bezio (10) with the hard hit on Beekmantown's Jack Rovers (21) that breaks up the play and sends the puck over to his brother Ben Bezio (11). Gallery

Saranac's Elizabeth Recore (4) with the three from the corner as the Spartans get the 38-36 victory. It would be the start of the second day of action at the Clinton Community College Florence Gym, as the #1 Saranac Spartans would take on the #2 Northeastern Clinton Cougars for the right to advance to the New York State Class B Tournament. Defense would be the name of the game, as the Cougars would start at just 6-2 after the first quarter. In the second quarter, the offense would come alive on both sides, as the Spartans won the quarter 13-12 but trailed 18-15 at the intermission. When the teams returned for the third quarter, it would be another low-scoring affair, as the Spartans won the quarter 11-9, and the Cougars took the slim 27-26 lead into the final 8 minutes. In the fourth quarter, the Spartans would let their defense stand strong as they would come back and win the quarter 12-9 to get the 38-36 victory In the winning effort for the Spartans Madison Gaginer would have 18 points as they advance to the New York State Class B Tournament and the Northeastern Clinton Cougars season would come to end as Grace Praire would have ten points. Gallery

Northeastern Clinton's Lexi Roberts breaks in for the score as she lays it off the window, scoring eight points. Gallery