The College at Brockport (1-2, 1-0 SUNYAC) rallied from an early deficit for a 6-3 victory over the SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey team (0-3, 0-2) at Maxcy Hall on Fridaynight. Freshman forward Jake Taylor (Port Perry, Ontario/Lindsay Muskies) scored two goals to lead the Golden Eagles, while sophomore forward Matt Thompson (Anchorage, Alaska/Kenai River Brown Bears) matched him for the Bears.
Potsdam jumped out to a 1-0 lead at the 6:07 of the first period. The puck was poked free to junior forward Zach Blake(Campbellford, Ontario/Plattsburgh State) at center ice. He then took it in all alone and wristed it over the left shoulder of Brockport junior goalie Aaron Green (Mt. Albert, Ontario/St. Michael’s Buzzers). Junior forward Ken Simon (Norwell, Mass./Philadelphia Revolution) and sophomore forward Todd Thomas (Davidsville, Pa./Hartford Wolfpack) assisted on the goal. Just over two minutes later, Golden Eagle sophomore forward Chase Nieuwendyk (Georgetown, Ontario/Trenton Golden Hawks) capitalized on Brockport’s first power play to even the score. Thompson struck for his first goal at 15:15 to put the Bears back on top 2-1 with an assist from senior forward Adam Place (Scarborough, Ontario/Bowmanville Eagles). Potsdam took the one-goal lead into the break.
After killing of two penalties early in the second period, the Golden Eagles tied the score. At 10:24, sophomore forward James Ryan (Richmond Hill, Ontario/Toronto Lakeshore Patriots) scored an even strength goal. Taylor buried his first six minutes later to give Brockport the lead for good and the Golden Eagles were up 3-2 after 40 minutes.
Four minutes into the final stanza Taylor recorded the eventual game-winner on the power play. At 7:11, sophomore forward Shane Cavalieri (Richmond Hill, Ontario/Toronto Lakeshore Patriots) rang the crossbar to give Brockport a 5-2 lead. Thompson got Potsdam back within three on the power play at10:39, with a shot from the slot. Sophomore forward Billy Pascalli(Deer Park, N.Y./New York Bobcats) and senior captain Mike Arnold (Didsbury, Alberta/Kingston Voyageurs) recorded the assists. After each team was whistled for a penalty, junior forward Troy Polino (Limerick, Pa./New York Bobcats) closed the scoring with a four-on-four goal at 16:14.
Bears sophomore goalie Jon Hall (Dexter, N.Y./Stouffville Spirit) finished with 25 saves, while Green stopped 30 shots for his first win of the season. Cavalieri led all scorers with a goal and two assists.
Potsdam was 1-6 on the power play and the Golden Eagles finished 2-7.