SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT.—The SUNY Potsdam men's hockey team (1-8) had to wait 38 days to play Saint Michael's College (1-4) after COVID postponed the contest. However, the Bears made the most of their opportunity on Saturday night with a 5-3 win over the Purple Knights.
 
Senior defenseman Justin Geary (Clifton Park, N.Y./Wilkes University) got Potsdam on the board first at 13:03 of the first period. Junior forward Justin Vernace (Mississauga, Ontario/Brampton Admirals) and sophomore defenseman Ryan Lieth (Warwick, N.Y./New York Apple Core) assisted on the goal. With 55 seconds left in the period, Cameron Stewart tied the game and sent the teams into the intermission at 1-1.
 
Owen Rudicus gave Saint Mike's its only lead of the contest at 15:01 of the second period. At 18:21, senior forward Thomas Terranova (Middletown, N.J./Syracuse Stars) got Potsdam even with helpers from senior forward Michael McArthur (St. Thomas, Ontario/Oswego State) and senior forward Robert Clerc (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Oswego State).
 
Clerc scored his own goal 2:03 into the third period with assists from Terranova and junior forward Nick Alfieri (Buffalo, N.Y./Buffalo Jr. Sabres). Just 23 seconds later, junior forward Jack Bloem (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Connecticut Rangers) buried the eventual game-winner and gave Potsdam a 4-2 lead. Junior forward Noah Dollo (Minden, N.Y./Trine University) and Lieth picked up the assists. The Purple Knights answered at 6:21 as Jack Bavis got his team back within one. At 17:35, Saint Mike's pulled goalie Marshall Murphy for an extra attacker. Potsdam made the most of the empty net and freshman forward Josh Bifolchi (Ottawa, Ontario/Mississauga Chargers) buried his first collegiate goal, while the Bears were shorthanded.
 
Senior goalie Michael Paglucca (North Reading, Mass./New Hampshire Avalanche) made 12 saves for the victory. Murphy stopped 35 shots for the Purple Knights. The Bears were 0-for-7 on the power play, while Saint Mike's was 0-for-4.
 
Potsdam is now 13-0-1 in the all-time series with the Purple Knights, dating back to a 6-4 Bears win on November 2, 1984.
 
Potsdam returns to SUNYAC play on Wednesday, when the Bears host Morrisville State at 7 p.m.