POTSDAM, N.Y.-The College at Brockport (4-6-1, 3-5 SUNYAC) pulled out a 3-2 see-saw victory over the SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey team (2-7-2, 1-6-1) on Friday night. Sophomore forward Ben Mariano (Harrisburg, Pa./Hartford Wolfpack) and freshman forward Anthony Merante (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Thorold Blackhawks) each scored for the Bears.
The Golden Eagles jumped out in front at the 5:46 mark with a power-play goal. Junior forward Dylan Shapiro (Rochester, N.Y./Rochester Jr. Americans) scored with the help of a centering pass from the slot to make it 1-0. Just 2:04 later, Mariano thwarted a clearing attempt and looped a shot over Brockport freshman goalie Matt Schneider (Manlius, N.Y./Florida Eels) to knot the score. Shapiro gave the Golden Eagles the lead back at the 15:23 mark, but Potsdam responded quickly again. Merante redirected a pass from senior assistant captain Vinny Caligiuri (Shoreham, N.Y./Hartford Wolfpack) for his first collegiate goal at 17:09. The score was tied 2-2 after 20 minutes.
The Bears outshot Brockport 16-6 in the middle period, thanks to three power players, but ended up with nothing to show for it. With 1:29 left in the in the second, Golden Eagles junior forward Zac Sikish (Oak Park, Calif./Granite City Lumberjacks) scored the eventual game-winner.
Defense clamped down for both teams in the third period. Potsdam matched Brockport with just four shots in the final 20 minutes. The Bears pulled sophomore goalie Nate Skidmore (Syracuse, N.Y./Buffalo Jr. Sabres) with 1:36 left, but couldn’t get even.
Skidmore finished with 17 saves and Schneider stopped 28 shots for the win.
Potsdam outshot Brockport 30-20 and went 0-for-5 on the power play. The Golden Eagles were 1-for-5 on the man advantage.
Tomorrow night, the Bears host No. 9 SUNY Geneseo at 7 p.m. on DHC Night for the Fight Against Cancer.
