POTSDAM, N.Y.—Freshman forward
Owen Robitaille (Endwell, N.Y./Boston Jr. Rangers) scored with 27 seconds left in overtime to lift the SUNY Potsdam men's hockey team (2-0) to a 2-1 victory over Nazareth University (1-3) on Saturday evening. Junior forward
Owen Watson (Smiths Falls, Ontario/Smiths Falls Bears) also scored a power-play goal and assisted on the game-winner. Junior
Luciano Chinappi (Hilton, N.Y./Boston Jr. Rangers) was outstanding in goal, picking up his third career win with 35 saves.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Potsdam opened the scoring at 12:05, while on the power play. Freshman forward Travis Ouellette (South Mountain, Ontario/Kemptville 73's) fired the puck behind the net. Watson picked it up at the left post and buried it. Sophomore defender Kyle James (Almonte, Ontario/Plattsburgh State) had the second assist.
- At 15:59, the Golden Flyers got even after breaking out of their zone. Freshman defenseman Tal Stevenson (Renfrew, Ontario/Renfrew Wolves) finished an odd-man rush with assists from sophomore forward Ty Oller (Wayne, N.J./Plattsburgh State) and senior forward Will Halecki (Middleton, Mass./Boston Jr. Rangers).
- Chinappi and Nazareth sophomore goalie Paul Dalessio (Burlington, Mass./Northern Cyclones) combined for 38 saves in the over the next two scoreless periods.
- Chinappi made 15 saves in the third period alone and another five in overtime.
- With time winding down in the extra session, Watson picked up the loose puck next to his own net to start a two-on-one. Watson gave it to Robitaille and he ripped a shot from the right faceoff circle to win the game.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Nazareth outshot Potsdam 36-22.
- The Bears were 1-for-2 on the power play and the Golden Flyers went 0-for-2.
- Dalessio finished with 20 saves.
- Potsdam is now 3-2-1 in the all-time series with Nazareth, dating back to a 6-3 win in Rochester on January 6, 2017.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Bears host SUNY Canton next Friday at 7 p.m. to open SUNYAC play.
