POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's hockey team (5-6, 1-4 SUNYAC) built early 2-0 and 3-1 leads before bowing to Buffalo State (4-4-1, 2-3-1) 4-3 on Saturday night. Sophomore defenseman Joseph Richardson (Palm Beach, Fla./PAL Islanders), junior forward Bryce Ferrell (Buffalo, N.Y./Buffalo Jr. Sabres) and senior defenseman Trevor Dennis (Rochester, N.Y./Buffalo Jr. Sabres) each scored for the Bears.
 
Potsdam jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period. Richardson drove home a rebound off a Ferrell shot for a 1-0 lead at 5:14. Dennis picked up the second assist. After alternating power plays through the middle of the period, the Bears added a power-play goal to extend their advantage. Ferrell scored with an assist from Richardson. Senior assistant captain Nate Skidmore (Syracuse, N.Y./Buffalo Jr. Sabres) made 10 stops in the first 20 minutes.
 
The Bengals got on the board just 2:09 into the second period. Sophomore forward Vadim Vasjonkin (Tallin, Estonia/Philadelphia Flyers) tipped a shot past Skidmore to make it 2-1. Potsdam answered 7:20 later. Dennis roofed a shot from the slot on a pass from freshman forward Jack Bloem (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Connecticut Rangers) to make it 3-1. Sophomore forward Paul Michura (Chester, N.J./New Jersey Rockets) also assisted on the goal. Consecutive penalties swung the momentum back in Buffalo State's favor and the Bengals capitalized. Senior forward Mac Wood (Simcoe, Ontario/Southern Oregon Spartans) scored at 12:48 to get within one. Just 1:21 later, Vasjonkin scored his second of the game to tie the score. The contest was knotted 3-3 after two periods.
 
Buffalo State took advantage of its eighth man advantage of the night to claim its first and only lead at 14:09 of the third period. After a slashing call against the Bears, Wood buried his second goal, which proved to be the game-winner. Potsdam pulled Skidmore for an extra attacker with 54 seconds left, but was unable to find the equalizer.
 
Skidmore finished with 29 saves. Bengals sophomore goalie Connor Minch (Manchester, N.H./Islanders Hockey Club) made 26 stops for the victory.
 
Buffalo State outshot the Bears 33-29 and was 2-for-8 on the power play. Potsdam was 1-for-3 on the man advantage.
 
The Bears are back in action at 7 p.m. on Friday at Oswego State.