POTSDAM, N.Y.-- Senior goalie Connor Green (New Port Richey, Fla./Tampa Bay Juniors) made 41 saves as the SUNY Potsdam men's hockey team (3-8, 2-5 SUNYAC) stunned No. 9 Plattsburgh State (7-2-2, 4-2-1) 5-2 on Saturday night. Graduate student forward Jack Bloem (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Saratoga Springs) had two goals and sophomore defenseman Nolan Towne (Stockholm, N.Y./Seahawks Hockey Club) had a goal and an assist for the Bears. Graduate student forward Michael McArthur (St. Thomas, Ontario/Oswego State) and junior forward Jack Loran (Massena, N.Y./New England Wolves) also scored.
 
The offense came quickly at the start of the contest. The Cardinals got on the board just 1:14 as junior forward Bennett Stockdale (Ottawa, Ontario/Alabama Huntsville) scored on a high shot from the left point. Potsdam wasted no time responding. Just 51 seconds later, Towne beat Cardinals sophomore goalie Jacob Hearne (Toronto Jr. Canadians) on another shot from the left point. Senior forward Justin Vernace (Mississauga, Ontario/Brampton Admirals) and sophomore forward Jack Ludwig (Sylvania, Ohio/Chippewa Steel) had the assists. At 18:46, after aggressive play from freshman forward Ryan Mahlmeister (Massapequa, N.Y./PAL Islanders) won the puck, he centered it to McArthur who slammed it home. The Bears led 2-1 after 20 minutes.
 
After replacing Hearne with freshman goalie Eli Schiller (Toronto, Ontario/Wellington Dukes), the Cardinals upped their energy to find the equalizer in the second period. After killing an early penalty, they went on the power play midway through the period. Plattsburgh moved the puck extremely well, but Green was always there with a big save or his defense played the spoiler. After dominating in all but the score, Bloem sent a laser from the left face off circle into the right corner of the net to make it 3-1 at 18:40. Freshman forward Mason Hoehn (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Richmond Generals) and freshman defenseman Michael Campbell (Toronto, Ontario/Jersey Whalers) assisted on the goal. Potsdam entered the second intermission in the midst of a penalty kill, but up two goals.
 
The Bears killed off the penalty, but were unable to extend their lead with a power play of their own. Intense Cardinals pressure earned them another power play at 9:06, but again Potsdam held them off. Finally, after a holding call on the Bears, Plattsburgh finally drew closer. Sophomore defenseman Jack Ring (Hingham, Mass./Northeast Generals) scored a power-play goal at 12:19. With 1:48 remaining, the Cardinals pulled Schiller for an extra attacker. With 51 seconds left, Loran buried an empty-net goal. Shortly after the ensuing faceoff, Schiller was pulled again with the same result. Senior defenseman Ryan Lieth (Warwick, N.Y./New York Apple Core) started a breakout, moving the puck to Hoehn. Hoehn then fed Bloem who ended all doubt with another empty netter.
 
Hearne made seven saves and allowed two goals in the first period. Shiller finished with 10 saves and one goal in 38:52. Potsdam was 0-for-3 on the power play and Plattsburgh was 1-for-4.
 
The Bears are back in action on Wednesday night when they head to Morrisville at 7 p.m. for another important SUNYAC contest.