POTSDAM, N.Y.—The fifth-seeded SUNY Potsdam men's soccer team (10-7-1, 4-4-1 SUNYAC) heads to SUNY Plattsburgh on Saturday night to face the fourth-seeded Cardinals at 6 p.m. It's the third straight postseason appearance for the Bears and the fifth time in program history (2002, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015).
 
Potsdam is ranked 10th in the latest NSCAA East Region poll and was ranked as high as eighth during the season. The Bears won a program record 10 games in 2015, including an upset of then No. 8 St. Lawrence on Sept. 15 and Potsdam's first win over Brockport in 12 years last Friday.
 
Offensively, the Bears were led by senior captains Tom Benedetto (Queensbury, N.Y./Queensbury) and Ben Firlit (South Glens Falls, N.Y./South Glens Falls). Benedetto scored four goals and assisted on nine others to lead the team with 17 points. The midfielder is the program's all-time assist leader with 24 and he ranks fifth on the Bears' scoring list with 42 career points (9g-24a). Firlit started the year on a torrid scoring streak, lighting up opposing goalies with seven goals in the first eight games. He is just a point behind Benedetto with 16 on the season (8g-0a). Firlit is third on Potsdam's all-time scoring list with 22 goals and three assists for 47 points in his four seasons.
 
The Bears offense was also bolstered by the emergence of sophomore defender Matthew Wagner (Bronxville, N.Y./Bronxville) (3g-3a-9pts), who recorded the decisive tally against the Saints, and freshman midfielder Jorge Ferrer (Syracuse, N.Y./Henninger). Ferrer scored four goals, including the critical game-winner over Fredonia during Potsdam's playoff push, and added an assist for nine points.
 
Defensively, the Bears are anchored by 2014 first team All-SUNYAC selection and senior captain Alex Griffith (Henrietta, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta), Wagner, sophomore Ian Warren (Shenorock, N.Y./Somers) and freshman John Becker (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y./Comsewogue).
 
Senior goalkeeper Jesse Kohler (Middletown, N.Y./Tompkins-Cortland C.C.) seized the starting job early in the season and compiled an 8-6-1 mark with two shutouts, a 1.65 goals-against-average and a .747 save percentage. Kohler has been named the conference's defensive player of the week twice this season.
 
The Cardinals enter the postseason with the highest scoring offense in the SUNYAC at 2.42 goals-per-game. They are also led by the top individual scorer in the conference in Alexis Archilla. Archilla scored 16 goals and registered three assists for 35 points. He scored Plattsburgh's lone goal in its 1-1 draw with the Bears on Sept. 26. Ethan Votraw (5g-4a-14pts), Fabian Chaparro (4g-5a-13pts) and Nicholas Laurent (6g-0a-12pts) also pose scoring threats. In goal, Mitchell Jordon was 12-3-3 while starting every game for the Cardinals. He also posted a 0.85 G.A.A. and a .814 save percentage to go with six shutouts.
 
Tickets for the contests are $6 for adults, $3 for children and free for all college students from a SUNYAC school with a college ID. For fans that can't attend the contest at Plattsburgh, video of the game will be streamed free online at http://nsnsports.net/colleges/plattsburgh-state/.
 
The winner of Saturday's contest will advance to the SUNYAC Semifinals at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at top-ranked Oneonta.