The Potsdam Bears used a second half surge to overcome the Brockport Golden Eagles, 5-2, at Maxcy Hall. The Bears trailed Brockport 2-1 after the first period, but two goals late in the second period gave them the lead heading into the third. Another pair in the final stanza clinched the win for Potsdam in their first conference game.
Brockport came out strong and outplayed Potsdam in the first period. Despite that, it was the Bears who scored first at the five-minute mark by Anthony Greer, unassisted.
The Golden Eagles hard work finally paid off when Nick Smyth scored twice in the final five minutes of the period with Dave Braunstein assisting on both of them. Brockport outshot Potsdam, 11-9, in that first period.
The Bears started to turn it around in the second period, finally tying the game at the 13:03 mark when Phil Aubrey scored his first collegiate goal. Four minutes later, Greer got his second of the night, and his fifth of the season, to give Potsdam the lead back.
Chris Lee and Aubrey again scored third period goals to put the game away.
In the final two periods, Potsdam outshot Brockport, 25-9, for a game total of 34-20.
Ryan Venturelli got the win with 18 saves. Brian Tefft got the loss with 29 saves.
For the third game in a row, Potsdam did not let up a power play goal. This time, they stopped Brockport in nine attempts, for 22 consecutive shorthanded situations without a goal. So far this year, Potsdam has let up just 2 power play goals in 39 attempts.
“Potsdam is a good team,” Brockport coach Brian Dickinson said. “They capitalize on your mistakes.”
Brockport drops to 0-2 in league play and 2-2 overall. They travel to Plattsburgh tomorrow to take on the Cardinals. Meanwhile, Potsdam stays home with a 1-0 SUNYAC record and 5-1 overall mark to play Geneseo.
