GENESEO, N.Y.— Sophomore forward Billy Pascalli (Deer Park, N.Y./New York
Bobcats) scored two goals and added two assists to help the SUNY Potsdam
men’s hockey team (7-12, 2-8 SUNYAC) to a 5-2 road victory over
14th-ranked SUNY Geneseo (14-5, 8-2) on Saturday night. Four other Bears
scored and sophomore Jon Hall (Dexter, N.Y./Stouffville Spirit) made 28
saves as Potsdam ended a four-game skid.
Potsdam got on the board just 3:34 into the contest as freshman forward
Tommy Telesca (Selden, N.Y./New York Bobcats) connected for his first
collegiate goal. Senior forward Adam Place (Scarbourgh,
Ontario/Bowmanville Eagles) and Pascalli assisted on the marker. The
one-goal advantage a lasted about five minutes before the Ice Knights tied
the score. Zachary Vit made it a 1-1 contest at 8:36. A minute later
Justin Scharfe beat Bears sophomore goalie Jon Hall (Dexter,
N.Y./Stouffville Spirit) to put the Geneseo in front 2-1. The Bears
outshot the Knights 12-8 in the first period, but the score was unchanged
at the intermission.
Potsdam dominated the middle 20 minutes, outshooting Geneseo 18-9.
However, Knight goalie Bryan Haude stopped shot after shot. The effort
finally paid off with just 1:35 remaining in the period. Place tied the
score with helpers from junior defenseman Erick Ware (Huntsville,
Ala./Kenai River Brown Bears) and Pascalli.
The Bears broke out in the third period. At the 8:28 mark, Pascalli put
Potsdam back in front with a power-play goal on an assist from senior
captain Mike Arnold (Didsbury, Alberta/Kingston Voyageurs). Just 59
seconds later, Arnold made it a 4-2 contest with an even-strength tally.
Sophomore forward Todd Thomas (Davidsville, Pa./Hartford Wolfpack) notched
the lone assist on the play. Geneseo pulled Haude for an extra attacker
with 25 seconds left. Pascalli made the Knights pay with an empty-net goal
24 seconds later. Pascalli’s empty-netter also came on a Bears’
man-advantage.
Haude finished with 42 saves as Potsdam outshot the Knights 47-30 on the
evening. The Bears were 2-4 on the power play, while holding Geneseo to a
0-5 performance.
Next, Potsdam returns home next weekend to close out the regular season
with a six-game home stand. The Bears host Buffalo State at 7 p.m. on
Friday and Fredonia at the same time on Saturday.
