POTSDAM, N.Y.—The fourth-seeded SUNY Potsdam men's soccer team (9-7-2, 4-4-1) will host fifth-seeded SUNY Geneseo (9-7-2, 4-4-1) in the first round of the SUNYAC Playoffs this Saturday afternoon at Maxcy Turf Field at 1 p.m. Admission is free for all attending.
 
Head Coach Adam Parker has guided the Bears to their second straight playoff appearance and third in his five seasons at the helm. With the 1-0 victory over the Blue Knights on Saturday, Potsdam matched its school record for wins with nine and earned its first home playoff game in program history.
 
Offensively, the Bears are led by junior midfielder Ben Firlit (South Glens Falls, N.Y./South Glens Falls) who compiled a career-high 22 points (10g, 2a) this season. Firlit recorded his first career hat trick in a 5-0 win over New Paltz on Oct. 11. Potsdam's all-time leading scorer, senior forward Eduardo Figueroa (28g, 12a, 68pts.) has come alive down the stretch with two goals in his last three games to become the Bears' greatest goal scorer. Junior and senior forwards Stephen Auyer (Oswego, N.Y./Oswego) and Cliff Bondi (Guilderland, N.Y./Guilderland) have also broken out this season. Auyer (5g, 5a, 15pts.) scored two goals in Potsdam's critical come-from-behind 4-3 win in overtime at Fredonia on Oct. 18. Bondi had two goals last weekend, including the lone-tally in the playoff clincher against Geneseo. Senior captain Alex Minsker (Brewster, N.Y./Brewster) rounds out the scoring leaders with three goals and four assists for seven points.
 
Three-time SUNYAC Goalie of Week Nick Davies (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas) anchors the Bears defensively. The sophomore is 8-7-2 this season with a .750 save percentage and a 1.51 goals-against-average. He recorded his third shutout of the season with six saves against the Blue Knights on Saturday. He is tied for the program's lead on the known wins list with 14. In front of Davies the Bears have gotten standout performances from juniors Alex Griffith (Henrietta, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta), Eric Cassidy (Queensbury, N.Y./Queensbury) and James Turcott (Washingtonville, N.Y./Washingtonville) along with freshman Ian Warren (Shenorock, N.Y./Somers) and Matthew Wagner (Bronxville, N.Y./Bronxville).
 
In the rematch with Geneseo, Potsdam will face one of the most balanced attacks in the SUNYAC and one of the conference's best goalkeepers. Junior forward Stanley Egbuchuluam (Valley Stream, N.Y./South) (3g, 1a, 7pts.) and Connor Beisner (West Islip, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) lead the team offensively, but are just two of 10 Blue Knights with three or more points. Junior goalie Logan Calvey (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) enters Saturday's contest ranked second in the SUNYAC in G.A.A. (.890) and save percentage (.812) and third in shutouts (7).
 
Saturday's winner will travel to top-seed Oneonta for a 1 p.m. matchup in the SUNYAC Semifinals.