POTSDAM, N.Y.-Ninth-ranked SUNY Geneseo (9-2-1, 5-2 SUNYAC) scored with 1:55 remaining to edge the SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey team (2-8-2, 1-7-1) 3-2 on Saturday night at Maxcy Ice Arena. Junior forward Joey Gilhooly (Brooklyn, N.Y./New York Bobcats) and Sean Kacerosky (Kendall Park, N.J./New York Bobcats) each scored for the Bears.
Potsdam outplayed the Ice Knights for much of the first period. The effort finally paid off at the 14:49 mark. Gilhooly slammed home the rebound off a shot by freshman forward Nick Keck (Holland, Pa./Odessa Jackalopes) to make it 1-0. Bears junior goalie Brendan McMenimen (Merrimac, Mass./Islanders Hockey Club) stopped all nine shots he faced in the first 20 minutes.
Geneseo tied the game just 1:53 into the second period. Freshman forward Devin Brink (Ashburn, Va./Philadelphia Jr. Flyers) beat a screened McMenimen from the left side of the net on a feed from freshman defenseman Teddy McCabe (Webster, N.Y./Cumberland Grads). Just over eight minutes later, freshman forward Andrew Romano (Drexel Hill, Pa./Johnstown Tomahawks) pushed a rebound past McMemimen as he fell to the ice in front of the net. Potsdam got even with just 15 seconds remaining in the period. Senior captain Nick Casacci (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Connecticut Oilers) fed junior forward Dylan Vander Esch (San Jose, Calif./Hartford Wolfpack), who took the puck into the left corner. He then sent it back to the left point for Kacerosky and he beat Ice Knights sophomore goalie Devin McDonald (Calgary, Alberta/Camrose Kodiaks).
The teams battled evenly in the third period until junior defenseman Pat Condon (Merrick, N.Y./Bay State Breakers) broke the draw on a shot from the left point. The Bears pulled McMemimen for an extra attacker with 53 seconds left and nearly got the equalizer. Seconds later, Keck rang the crossbar, but Potsdam couldn’t find the back of the net.
McMenimen made 36 saves on the night and McDonald finished with 32. The Bears were 0-for-3 on the power play and the Ice Knights went 0-for-4.
Potsdam hosted its DHC Night for the Fight Against Cancer this evening. The Bears wore special jerseys that were auctioned off after the game. All proceeds were donated to the American Cancer Society. Prior to the game, cancer survivor Wayne Wilkins as well as Colleen and Robert Kacerosky, the parents of Bears’ cancer survivor Sean, participated in a ceremonial puck drop (See pictures below).
Potsdam is now off until Jan. 6-7, when the Bears travel to Rochester for a two-game series with Nazareth College.
