SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.-Senior forward Matt Thompson (Anchorage, Alaska/Kenai River Brown Bears) scored the game-tying goal with 1:45 remaining in regulation to help the No. 12/14 SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey (6-2-1) salvage a 3-3 tie with Skidmore College (2-6-1) in the Skidmore Invitational Consolation Game. Senior forward Jake Rivera (Pacific Palisades, Calif./Hartford Wolfpack) and sophomore forward Dylan Vander Esch (San Jose, Calif./Hartford Wolfpack) also scored for the Bears. Marc Cibelli led the Thoroughbreds with a goal and two assists.
Skidmore struck first when Jack Sloan scored on the power play at 10:30. Just over eight minutes later, Rivera tied it when he scored on a delayed shot in front at 18:45. Junior forward Tommy Telesca (Selden, N.Y./New York Bobcats) and sophomore defenseman Sean Kacerosky (Kendall Park, N.J./New York Bobcats) each assisted.
The teams traded goals in the second period. Vander Esch gave Potsdam its lone lead when his wrap-around found its way over the goal line at 17:11. Freshman defenseman Dom Horvath (Toledo, Ohio / Brantford 99ers) set up the Bears’ second goal. Anthony Bird evened the score at 2-2 when he rifled a shot from a tough angle over the glove of Potsdam sophomore goalie Brendan McMenimen (Merrimack, Mass./Islanders Hockey Club) at 19:10. The score remained tied after 40 minutes.
Cibelli put Skidmore back in front when he corralled a bouncing puck in front and scored on the power play at 14:06. The Bears forced overtime as Thompson tied the game with helpers from senior captain Todd Thomas (Davidsville, Pa./Hartford Wolfpack) and freshman forward Mike Sweeney (Pittsburgh, Pa./PAL Islanders) at 18:15.
Both teams had chances in overtime, with Skidmore getting three of its four shots in the final 30 seconds, but McMenimen shut the Thoroughbreds down for the tie.
The Thoroughbreds finished with a 32-31 shot advantage. Skidmore went 2-for-8 on the power play, while the Bears were unable to capitalize in five opportunities. Thoroughbreds goalie Jack McDonald had 28 saves, while McMenimen stopped 29 shots.
Potsdam, still in first place in the SUNYAC, returns to conference play with a road trip to Geneseo and Brockport this weekend. The Bears have won three straight against the Ice Knights and are winless (0-3-1) in their last four versus the Golden Eagles.
