POTSDAM, N.Y.-Junior forward Vinny Caligiuri (Shoreham, N.Y./Hartford Wolfpack) provided all the offense the SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey team (3-0, 3-0 SUNYAC) needed as it topped Buffalo State (0-1-2, 0-1-1) 2-1 on Friday night at Maxcy Ice Arena. Bears sophomore goalie Brendan McMenimen (Merrimac, Mass./Islanders Hockey Club) remained perfect in his collegiate career with 29 saves.
The first period featured plenty of strong scoring opportunities and even better goaltending. Potsdam and the Bengals created multiple scoring chances from the slot and right at the top of the crease but, Buffalo State junior goalie Mike DeLaVergne (Pawling, N.Y./Wilkes-Barre Scranton Knights) and McMenimen put on a clinic. Potsdam outshot the Bengals 9-4 in the opening 20 minutes, but the game was scoreless at the first break.
Two Bears penalties early in the second period gave Buffalo State momentum. During the first man advantage, McMeniman robbed Bengals junior forward Jake Rosen (East Amherst, N.Y./Connecticut Oilers) point blank with his blocker. The goaltender stopped three more shots during the second penalty kill and the game remained scoreless. Just 31 seconds later at 11:55, Caligiuri drove home a rebound off a shot from freshman forward Tyler Donaldson (Northumberland, Ontario/Trenton Golden Hawks) and Potsdam led 1-0. Senior forward Billy Pascalli (Deer Park, N.Y./New York Bobcats) notched the second assist on the goal. Late in the period, Potsdam struggled to clear its zone and the Bengals made them pay. At the 18:41 mark, senior forward Cory Gurski (Hilton, N.Y./Buffalo Jr. Sabres) knocked it past McMenimen after assists from sophomore forward Ryan Stayner (Youngstown, N.Y./St. Catherines Falcons) and senior defenseman Scott Roy (Rockland, Ontario/Gloucester Rangers). The score was knotted at 1-1 after 40 minutes.
1:41 into the third period, Caligiuri struck again. The Bears cleared their zone and Donaldson sent a pass from his knees ahead to Pascalli who fed Caligiuri at the right side of the net. The junior tucked the shot over DeLaVergne’s left shoulder for a 2-1 lead. Buffalo State junior forward Taylor Price (Newmarket, Ontario/North York Rangers) nearly tied the game six minutes later, but McMenimen stuffed him on the breakaway. The Bengals pulled DeLaVergne with 1:26 left, but couldn’t couldn’t crack Potsdam’s defense. Senior forward Jake Rivera (Pacific Palisades, Calif./Hartford Wolfpack) hit the post with about 10 seconds left, but the score remained 2-1.
DeLaVergne made 28 saves in the losing effort. It was his first defeat in three start against Potsdam, including last season’s SUNYAC Quarterfinals. Buffalo State was 0-for-4 on the power play and the Bears were 0-for-2. Shots were even at 30 apiece.
The 3-0 start is the best for Potsdam since the Bears opened 2002-03 with a 4-0 mark. Potsdam has not opened SUNYAC play with a 3-0 mark since the magical 1995-96 season, when the Bears jumped out to a 6-0 beginning to conference play.
Potsdam looks to keep the momentum going tomorrow night when SUNY Fredonia comes to town for a 7 p.m. faceoff.
