ELMIRA, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey team (6-4-2) built a 3-1 advantage midway through the second period, but was unable to hold off Elmira College (5-4) in a nonconference 5-3 road loss on Tuesday night. Bears junior forward Tommy Telesca (Selden, N.Y./New York Bobcats), sophomore defenseman Sean Kacerosky (Kendall Park, N.J./New York Bobcats), freshman forward Ben Mariano (Harrisburg, Pa./Hartford Wolfpack) each scored for the Bears.
The teams battled evenly throughout the first period. The Potsdam edged the Soaring Eagles 9-8 in shots. The best opportunity of the opening 20 minutes came about the 13-minute mark as Elmira’s Rob Simpson carried the puck from end to end and rang the post. Bears sophomore goaltender Brendan McMenimen (Merrimack, Mass./Islanders Hockey Club) was perfect in the period, as was his counterpart Sal Magliocco.
The Soaring Eagles drew first blood in the second period, as the teams combined for five goals. Brian Depp struck at 5:52 to put Elmira up 1-0. However, Telesca answered 24 seconds later with a helper from senior forward Billy Pascalli (Deer Park, N.Y./New York Bobcats). At 9:03, Potsdam grabbed the lead as Kacerosky beat Magliocco with a wrister from the left circle. Senior forwards Jake Rivera (Pacific Palisades, Calif./Hartford Wolfpack) and Matt Thompson (Anchorage, Alaska/Kenai River Brown Bears) assisted on the play. Just 1:36 later, Mariano made it 3-1 with his first collegiate goal. Freshman defenseman Trevor Dennis (Rochester, N.Y./Buffalo Jr. Sabres) and freshman forward Mike Sweeney (Pittsburgh, Pa./PAL Islanders recorded the assists. Just as it appeared Potsdam would run away with the contest, Depp notched his second at 14:02. The score was 3-2 in favor of the Bears after 40 minutes.
Elmira clinched the win with three third period goals. Jeremy Marginsky tied the game at 9:47. Potsdam killed off a penalty three minutes later, but the Eagles’ momentum continued. At 14:50, Tommy Sumi buried the eventual game-winner, making it 4-3. McMemimen was pulled for an extra attacker at the 1:55 mark, but Jarryd ten Vaanholt countered with an empty-netter with 40 seconds left.
McMenimen finished with 21 saves, while Magliocco stopped 29 shots. The Bears were 0-for-2 on the power play and Elmira was 0-3.
Potsdam looks to stop its six-game winless skid against Johnson & Wales on Friday at 7 p.m. in its semester finale.
