POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's hockey (4-15-1, 3-10-1 SUNYAC) erupted for five unanswered goals to defeat Buffalo State (4-16, 2-10) 5-1 on Saturday evening. Freshman defenseman
Drew Rose (Brasher Falls, N.Y./Utica Jr. Comets) scored the first two goals of his career, while senior captain
Ben Thompson (Canterbury, Conn./New Hampshire Avalanche) and freshman forward
Jack Loran (Massena, N.Y./New England Wolves) each added a goal and an assist. Junior goalie
Connor Green (New Port Richey, Fla./Tampa Bay Juniors) made 32 saves for his fourth career victory.
Bengals graduate student defenseman Troy Button (Royal Oak, Mich./Elliot Lake Wildcats) opened the scoring at 9:29 of the first period. He fired from the right point and the puck deflected off a Bear defender and past Green. The Bengals outshot Potsdam 11-9 in the opening 20 minutes and took a 1-0 lead into the locker room.
The Bears went on the penalty kill 3:10 into the second period and made the most of a Buffalo State turnover. After Thompson created a shorthanded scoring chance, a Bengal defenseman fanned on a clearing pass in front of the net. Thompson picked up the pick and beat Buffalo State goalie Emil Norrman (Kungsbacka, Sweden/Dells Ducks) to tie the game. Just over 10 minutes later, Loran scored the eventual game-winner after knocking home the rebound off a shot from senior forward
Robert Clerc (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Oswego State). Senior assistant captain
Thomas Terranova (Middletown, N.J./Syracuse Stars) notched the second assist. Rose scored an unassisted goal at 17:20 and Potsdam led 3-1 after 40 minutes.
The score remained unchanged until the final two minutes of the third period. The Bengals pulled Norrman with 1:47 to go. The Bears won the ensuing faceoff and Rose sent a rocket the length of the ice to make it 4-1. With 1:01 left, the Bengals were called for a slash and five seconds later, senior assistant captain
Chris Gratton (Pottstown, Pa./Walpole Express) closed the scoring a blast from the left point.
Norrman finished with 24 saves. The Bengals outshot the Bears 33-29. Potsdam was 1-for-1 on the power play and Buffalo State was 0-for-2.
The Bears are now 3-1-1 in their last five games and still in the playoff hunt.
Potsdam hosts Plattsburgh State next on Friday at 7 p.m.
