The SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey team was in search of its first win of the season against SUNY Geneseo in a SUNYAC game on Saturday night at Maxcy Hall Arena.
The wait will have to be a bit longer.
The Bears (0-4 overall, 0-3 SUNYAC) attempted to stage a late rally by coming up with a third period goal and ultimately held a 33-28 shots on goal advantage including a 16-10 edge in the final period.
But it was a circumstance of too little, too late for Potsdam.
Trailing 3-0, the Bears drew closer when sophomore left wingJake Rivera (Pacific Palisades, Calif. / Hartford Wolfpack) scored on a power play on a nicely placed centering pass from sophomore Todd Thomas (Davidsville, Pa. / Hartford Wolfpack) and Billy Pascalli (Deer Park, N.Y. / New York Bobcats) with13:51 left in the third period.
Rivera and Thomas had previously played together as teammates on the same Hartford Wolfpack team.
The Bears had a quality look on goal when Pascalli shot from the slot and grazed the shoulder of Geneseo goaltender Bryan Haude (2-0) during the second period. Junior defenseman Max Fogel(Williamsville, N.Y. / Buffalo Jr. Sabres) also threatened to score with three shots in the third period. Adam Place (Scarborough, Ontario / Plattsburgh State) was a consistent force, taking a team-high eight shots.
Sophomore Austin Keiser (Dunwoody, Ga. / Boston Bulldogs) made 24 saves and dropped to 0-2.
The Ice Knights (3-1 overall, 3-1 SUNYAC) built a huge cushion through the opening two and half periods. Geneseo struck first when junior forward Tyler Brickler (Riverwoods, Ill. / UMass-Lowell) scored a power play goal on helpers from junior Justin Scharfe (Webster, N.Y. / Bridgewater Bandits) and sophomore David Ripple (Winter Springs, Fla. / Coulee Region Chill) with :49 remaining in the first period.
Geneseo added to its lead with a second period goal with Brickler’s second of the game.
Junior forward Ryan Stanimir (West Vancouver, British Columbia / Sacred Heart Pioneers) converted on a power play 2:54 into the third period on a feed from freshman forward Zachary Vit (Villanova, Pa. / Green Mountain Glades).
Stanimir added an empty net goal in the waning seconds of the game.
The teams split last season’s two meetings with each squad winning on its home ice.
Potsdam will hit the road for its next two contests.
The Bears will play at Buffalo State on Friday at 7 p.m. and at Fredonia on Saturday at 7 p.m.
