MORRISVILLE, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's hockey team (5-16-1, 4-11-1 SUNYAC) fought off a relentless Morrisville State squad (7-15-2, 2-13) for a 6-5 victory on Saturday night's season finale. Sophomore forward
Michael Olszewski (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Cobourg Cougars) scored the first two goals his career and senior captain
Ethan Clark (Seven Valleys, Pa./New Hampshire Avalanche) had a goal and an assist for the Bears.
Senior forward
Thomas Terranova (Middletown, N.J./Syracuse Stars) got the Bears on the board first at 17:29 of the first period. Senior captain
Ben Thompson (Canterbury, Conn./New Hampshire Avalanche) and senior forward Rob Clerc (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Oswego State) each assisted on the goal. Just 1:27 later, freshman forward
Josh Bifolchi (Ottawa, Ontario/Mississauga Chargers) made it 2-0 with a power-play marker. Senior defenseman
Justin Geary (Clifton Park, N.Y./Wilkes University) and freshman defenseman
Drew Rose (Brasher Falls, N.Y./Utica Jr. Comets) picked up the assists. The score was unchanged at the first intermission.
Benjamin Lindberg cut the lead in half with a goal at 31:02 of the second period. However, freshman forward
Garrett McArthur (London, Ontario/Markham Royals) answered 38 seconds later with first goal of his career on helper from freshman defenseman
Tyler Lisieski (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Vermont Lumberjacks). At 16:25, Clark notched Potsdam's second power-play goal of the game. Senior forward
Michael McArthur (St. Thomas Ontario/Oswego State) and Clerc recorded the assists. James Boisvert struck for the Mustangs at 19:20 and The Bears led 4-2 after 40 minutes.
Olszewski buried his first at 6:41 of the third period to extend the lead back to three. Clark had the assist on the goal. Morrisville rallied to tie the game with three goals, including two on the man advantage in a 6:47 span. Trevor Granby scored a power-play goal at 10:50. Eric Melso did the same at 12:44. Ben Sprague got the equal-strength equalizer at 17:37. Olszewski was quick to respond with the eventual game-winner 18 seconds later with an assist from junior forward
Nick Alfieri (Buffalo, N.Y./Buffalo Jr. Sabres).
Senior goalie
Michael Paglucca (North Reading, Mass./New Hampshire Avalanche) earned the victory with 28 saves. Ryan Creenan was tagged with the loss after stopping 23 shots.
Potsdam was 2-for-4 on the power play and Morrisville was 3-for-5.
The Bears closed the season with a 4-2-1 mark in their last seven contests.
The night marked the close the college careers for seniors
Chris Gratton (Pottstown, Pa./Walpole Express), Clark, Paglucca, Thompson, Terranova, McArthur, Clerc,
Jack Bloem (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Connecticut Rangers), Geary and
Brett Horn (Cary, N.C./Humboldt Broncos).
