PLATTSBURGH, N.Y.-The SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey team (6-9-2, 2-5-1) battled ninth-ranked SUNY Plattsburgh (13-4-1, 9-1 SUNYAC) nearly even for 40 minutes before a big third period earned the Cardinals a 6-2 win on Friday night. Senior forward Zach Blake (Campbellford, Ontario/SUNY Plattsburgh) and junior forward Jake Rivera (Pacific Palisades, Calif./Hartford Wolfpack) each scored for the Bears.
Blake got Potsdam on the board first at the 11:42 mark with assists from senior forward Trevor Cope (Swartz Creek, Mich./Atlanta Jr. Knights) and senior defenseman Erick Ware (Huntsville, Ala./Kenai River Brown Bears). The goal was Blake’s fifth of the season and third against his former club. Just 42 seconds later, Plattsburgh got even with a marker from Connor Gorman. Plattsburgh outshot the Bears 22-7 in the first 20 minutes, but thanks to the stellar play of junior goaltender Jon Hall (Dexter, N.Y./Stouffville Spirit) were tied 1-1
Anthony Calabrese gave the Cardinals their first lead of the game 4:14 into the second period. Plattsburgh kept up the pressure, but Hall continued to keep his team in the game. Rivera tied the score at the 15:05 mark on Ware’s second helper of the contest. Three minutes later, Gorman notched his second for the eventual game-winner. The Bears trailed 3-2 after two.
The Cardinals broke the game open in the final stanza. Alex Brenton made it a 4-2 contest at 3:08 and then struck again at 12:27. With 44 ticks left, Connor Toomey capped the scoring for a 6-2 final.
In goal, Hall finished with 48 saves and Plattsburgh’s Brady Roleau stopped 20 shots. Both teams were 0-3 on the man advantage.
Potsdam returns home next weekend for the final time this season. On Friday, the Bears host SUNY Geneseo and on Saturday, the College at Brockport. Both games start at 7 p.m.
