TROY, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's soccer team (6-2) had its four-game winning streak halted with a 3-1 setback at No. 13 RPI (7-0) on Saturday afternoon. Senior captain Ben Firlit (South Glens Falls, N.Y./South Glens Falls) scored for the Bears.

The offense started quickly in the contest. Just 2:01 into the game, Devon Baughen finished a pass from Nathaniel Gunderson to put the Engineers up 1-0. Six and a half minutes later, Firlit and fellow senior captain Tom Benedetto (Queensbury, N.Y./Queensbury) connected for Firlit's seventh goal of the season and the score was tied. At 15:14, after a Potsdam foul, Paul Lentine made the most of a penalty kick to put RPI back in front 2-1. Play was fairly even over the rest of the half with the shots 6-6 at the break and the score unchanged.

RPI was able to generate pressure early in the second half. In the 54th minute, Engineer Vito Mesiti picked up the ball on a pass from Matt Carberry and blasted it into the left corner of the net to make it a 3-1 contest. The Bears responded with improved offensive play after the goal, keeping RPI's defense on its heels. The Bears created several strong opportunities in the last 15 minutes, but was unable to solve Engineer keeper Ryan Nealon the rest of the way.

Potsdam senior goalie Jesse Kohler (Middletown, N.Y./Tompkins-Cortland C.C.) finished with three stops, while Nealon stopped two shots. The Bears outshot the Engineers 12-10 and each team had a single corner.

Potsdam travels to Plattsburgh next Saturday at 1 p.m. to open SUNYAC play.