CANTON, N.Y.—Senior captain Tom Benedetto (Queensbury, N.Y./Queensbury) scored twice to lead the SUNY Potsdam men's soccer team (3-1) to a 7-0 blowout of Johnson State (1-3). With the goals, Benedetto moved into a tie for seventh place on the program's all-time scoring list. Senior captain Ben Firlit (South Glens Falls, N.Y./South Glens Falls) scored his fourth goal in four games to move into a tie for fourth on the scoring list.

On another stifling evening, the Bears and Badgers started slowly. However, Potsdam needed just 6:51 to get on the board. The ball was deflected to Benedetto, who dodged a couple defenders and let loose a blast. Johnson State senior goalie Alex Pakatar (Troy, N.Y./LaSalle) got a piece of the ball, but not enough to prevent it from crossing the goal line. Senior midfielder Patrick Mylod (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) assisted on the play. Potsdam's momentum built after the goal and Firlit scored with an assist from sophomore forward Ritchie Hetherington (Falkirk, Scotland/Herkimer County C.C.) in the 20th minute. Potsdam continued to pepper Pakatar with shots as the half wound down, finishing with a 22-2 advantage by the break. With 58 seconds left, freshman midfielder Isaac Sanabria (Bedford, N.Y./Fox Lane) chased down a long pass behind the Badger defense. He stopped the ball and knocked it back to freshman midfielder Jorge Ferrer (Syracuse, N.Y./Henninger). Ferrer then drove it under Pakatar's left arm to make it 3-0 at the half.

In the final period, the Bears picked up where they left off. Early pressure resulted in a Potsdam corner that Benedetto launched into the box. Senior midfielder Johnny Zator (Lido Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) headed the ball toward the right corner of the net and junior midfielder Chris Schrum (Manhattan, N.Y./Millenium) tipped it home. Seven minutes later, freshman defender John Becker (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y./Comsewogue) set up Benedetto's second of the contest to give Potsdam a 5-0 advantage. At the 63:59 mark, senior forward Stephen Auyer (Oswego, N.Y./Oswego) launched a direct kick off a Badger defender and it skipped past Pakatar for the Bears' third goal of the half. With the goal, Auyer seized sole position of sixth place on the all-time scoring list. Nine minutes later, junior forward Brandon Laurin (Chazy, N.Y./Chazy) sent another corner into the crowd in front of the net and junior forward Justin Kellet (Chazy Lake, N.Y./North Country C.C.) banked it off the post and in for the seventh goal of the contest.

Potsdam outshot Johnson State 40-3 and finished with a 7-2 advantage in corners. Bears senior goalie Jesse Kohler (Middletown, N.Y./Tompkins-Cortland C.C.) made one save in the first 60:14. Sophomore goalie Keagan Briggs (Peru, N.Y./Seton Catholic) was untested over the rest of the contest. Pakatar stopped 15 shots for the Badgers.

The Bears head to the Capital District this weekend for games with Skidmore and Sage. Potsdam takes on the Thoroughbreds at 4 p.m. on Friday and the Gators at the Albany College of Pharmacy at the same time on Saturday.