POTSDAM, N.Y.-Second-ranked SUNY Plattsburgh (19-3-1, 12-1-1 SUNYAC) survived a strong effort by the SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey team (11-8-4, 7-5-2) for a 2-1victory on Saturday night. Senior captain Todd Thomas (Davisville, Pa./Hartford Wolfpack) scored the lone goal for the Bears. The Cardinals clinched the SUNYAC regular season title with the win.
Plattsburgh opened the contest with high energy and put good pressure on Potsdam’s defense early. The Bears and sophomore goalie Brendan McMenimen (Merrimack, Mass./Islanders Hockey Club) withstood the early barrage, which included a Plattsburgh power play. Senior forward Billy Pascalli (Deer Park, N.Y./New York Bobcats) had the first great chance of the game about six minutes in, but Cardinals senior goalie Spencer Finney (Pontypool, Ontario/Colgate University) robbed him with his glove. At the 9:34 mark, sophomore forward Matt Quilty (Midland, Ontario/Caledonia Corvairs) roofed a feed from the slot to give Plattsburgh a 1-0 lead. Bears senior forward Jake Rivera (Pacific Palisades, Calif./Hartford Wolfpack) nearly tied the game moments later, but again Finney stonewalled him. Plattsburgh took overlapping penalties in the final two minutes of the period and Potsdam took a five-on-three power play into the middle stanza.
The Cardinals killed the first penalty, but just 55 seconds into the second period Potsdam tied the game. Sophomore forward Dylan Vander Esch (San Jose, Calif./Hartford Wolfpack) sent the puck into the left corner for junior forward Vinny Caligiuri (Shortham, N.Y./Hartford Wolfpack). Caligiuri then fired it across the crease where Thomas hammered it home. The goal fired up Plattsburgh and the Cardinals controlled the play for much of the period, outshooting Potsdam 16-6. The Bears took an interference penalty at the 14:49 mark and the Cardinals made them pay. At 16:31, senior defenseman Anthony Calabrese (Bridgeton, N.J./Wisconsin Wilderness) beat a screened McMenimen with a shot from the right point. The goal proved to be the difference in the game.
The third period was an even and physical battle with the Cardinals edging the Bears 12-11 in shots. McMenimen and Finney continued to frustrate shooters for the entire 20 minutes. With 2:50 to go, Finney sprawled to make a save and cover up with three Bears and two Plattsburgh defenders crowding the crease. The puck came close, but didn’t cross the line. Potsdam pulled McMenimen with 43 seconds left, but couldn’t net the equalizer.
Finney stopped 30 shots to earn the win, while McMenimen put on another strong performance with 36 saves. The Cardinals were 1-for-2 on the power play and the Bears went 1-for-1.
With two games left, and a possible four points available, the Bears are in fourth place. Potsdam is four points behind second place Geneseo and three ahead of Brockport in sixth.
The Bears resume their quest for a second straight home playoff berth next weekend when they host Geneseo and Brockport. The Ice Knights invade Maxcy Ice Arena at 7 p.m. on Friday and the Golden Eagles come to town at the same time on Saturday.
