CORTLAND, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's hockey team (6-16-1, 3-11 SUNYAC) erased a two-goal third period deficit before falling 3-2 at SUNY Cortland (14-8-2, 9-5-1) on Saturday evening. Sophomore forwards Ryan Mahlmeister (Massapequa, N.Y./PAL Islanders) and Max Klanow (Holly, Mich./Hawkesbury Hawks) each scored for the Bears and freshman goalie Lenny Perno (Rochester, N.Y./Richmond) made 31 saves.
 
Potsdam outshot the Red Dragons 14-10 in the first period. Both teams had one power play, but the contest was still scoreless after 20 minutes.
 
Cortland scored twice in the middle stanza. Nate Berke opened the scoring at 3:57. Stephen Kyrkostas netted the second goal at 15:41. The Bears edged the Red Dragons in shots 11-10, but trailed 2-0 heading into the second intermission.
 
Mahlmeister got the Bears on the board just 40 seconds into the third period. Senior forward Jack Loran (Massena, N.Y./New England Wolves) and sophomore defenseman Michael Campbell (Toronto, Ontario/Jersey Whalers) picked up the assists. At 9:17, Klanow tied the score with an assist from sophomore forward Mathieu Parent (Kapuskasing, Ontario/Renfrew Wolves). Cortland jumped back in front just 27 seconds later. D.J. Walsh made it 3-2 at 9:44. The Bears went on the power play with 1:38 left and pulled Perno with 24 seconds remaining. However, the Red Dragons held on for the 3-2 win.
 
Jack Riedell stopped 29 shots for the win. Potsdam was 0-for-5 on the power play and Cortland went 0-for-3.
 
The Bears are back in action on Friday, when they host SUNY Fredonia at 7:30 p.m. on Bear Pride Night.