POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey team (3-3, 2-3 SUNYAC) scored five second period goals to cruise to a 7-3 victory over SUNY Geneseo (4-4-1, 2-3-1) in a SUNYAC contest on Friday night. Bears senior captainSy Nutkevitch recorded four assists, while sophomore forward Adam Place and junior forward Bill Tsekos each scored two goals.

Potsdam got off to a quick start in the first period. At the 2:21 mark, Tsekos fired a soft wrister from the left faceoff circle. The shot skipped off of Ice Knight goalie Corey Gershon’s right pad and into the net. Freshman forward Trevor Cope gave the Bears a 2-0 advantage, burying a rebound in front. Potsdam freshman goaltender Dylan Ellis made 11 of his 33 saves in the first period to preserve the two-goal advantage after 20 minutes.

Geneseo rallied quickly in the second period. Ice Knight junior defenseman Brandon Angotti cut the lead in half just 1:16 into the period. At the 10:03 mark, junior Blake O’Connor tied the game with a shot from the point. The Bears never allowed the momentum to shift any further as Place gave Potsdam a 3-2 lead just 16 seconds later. At 10:22 of the period, Geneseo sophomore forward Rich Manley was called for a five-minute hitting-from-behind penalty and a 10-minute misconduct. The Bears scored three times during the five minute power play. Sophomore forwardMike Arnold scored the eventual game-winner at 13:23. Tsekos and Place notched their second goals at 14:03 and 17:12, respectively. Senior forward Hunter Syrydiuk made it a 7-2 contest at the 17:50 mark. Geneseo closed the scoring with their final goal from junior forward Kaz Iwomoto at 18:04 to cut the lead to 7-3.

The Ice Knights played much better in the third period and were helped by three power plays, but were unable to solve Ellis again. Potsdam didn’t pad their lead any further.

Geneseo’s Gershon allowed six goals and made 19 saves in 37:12. He was replaced by junior goalie Adrian Rubiniuk who allowed a goal on the only shot he faced in 38 seconds in goal. Freshman Bryan Haude played the final 22:10 and stopped all five shots he faced.

Potsdam was 3-9 on the power play and the Ice Knights finished 0-5.

“We knew we were going to have to play 60 minutes to win the hockey game and I’m very pleased that we were able to do that,” said Potsdam Head Coach Chris Bernard. “This game had many possible turning points and when Sy, Adam Place, and Trevor Cope went out there and put us back on top after they had tied the game, it changed the whole momentum.”

Potsdam’s victory was the first over Geneseo since a 5-3 home win on Feb. 6, 2009.

The Bears look to stay hot when they host Brockport tomorrow night at 7 p.m.