POTSDAM, N.Y. -- The SUNY Potsdam men's soccer team (3-6-1, 1-0 SUNYAC) defeated No. 21 Buffalo State Bengals (7-1. 0-1 SUNYAC) 2-1 in overtime on Friday afternoon. After a scoreless first half, the intensity picked up in the second half. Senior forward Alejandro Callejas (Bayshore, N.Y./Brentwood) gave the Bears the lead. When it looked like the Bears had secured the victory, a miraculous shot by junior midfielder Zak Shaibi (Buffalo, N.Y./McKinley) with just a second in left regulation kept the Bengals alive. After seven minutes of overtime play, freshman midfielder Justin Lamando (East Islip, N.Y./East Islip) scored the game-winner in the SUNYAC opener.
 
Neither team was able to seize control in a quiet first half. Sophomore goalkeeper Conor Callan (Piermont, N.Y./Tappan Zee) came up with two big saves, while anchoring the Bears defense. Sophomore defender Colin Zieske (Averill Park, N.Y./Averill Park) gave the Bears a good scoring chance with his header shot in the goal area off a corner kick in the 34th minute, but his attempt went just over the crossbar. The contest was still scoreless at the break.
 
The Bears wasted no time in the second half. At the 42:48 mark, Callejas picked up a pass from Lamando and sent a rocket into the right corner of the goal to make it 1-0. The Bengals nearly responded with a goal of their own soon after. Sophomore forward Trevor Moreland (Newfane, N.Y./Newfane) got into a foot race with a Bear and tried to send the ball between Callan's legs, but the goalkeeper was deflected it just in time. Buffalo State got another opportunity as players scrambled for the ball. Moreland gained possession and sent a high chip shot towards goal, but Callan got both hands on ball to prevent the tie. The Bengals continued to bring the pressure to the Bears for the majority of the half to tie the contest. As they prepared for a throw-in, Buffalo State had less than 20 seconds to send the game to overtime. After the throw in, junior midfielder Nemanja Simic (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) attempted a pass from midfield to a teammate, but the Bears were able to interrupt the play. After players scrambled for the ball, Shaibi attempted a shot that was blocked into midair. As the ball came down Shaibi this time delivered a backwards bicycle kick that looped over Callan with just one second left.
 
In overtime, the intensity continued as both teams looked for the tiebreaker. With 2:22 left, senior midfielder Jefferey Schulz (East Moriches, N.Y./Westhampton Beach) gained possession and headed it off to Lamando, who sent the ball past a Bengals defender into the right side of the net to send the Bears home happy.
 
Callan racked up 10 saves for the Bears and senior goalkeeper Andreas Queen (Stone Ridge, N.Y./Rondout Valley) finished with two for the Buffalo State.
 
The Bengals had a 25-10 advantage in shots and a 6-3 advantage in corner kicks.
 
The Bears host the Fredonia Blue Devils tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Maxcy Turf Field, looking to keep the momentum rolling.