POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's hockey team (6-15-2, 1-12-1 SUNYAC) took the red-hot Plattsburgh State Cardinals (14-8-1, 9-4-1) to the limit before falling 3-2 in overtime. The Cardinals are now 8-0-1 in their last nine games. Bears junior goaltender Brendan McMenimen (Merrimac, Mass./Islanders Hockey Club) played one of his finest games of the season, stacking up 45 saves. Freshman Massena native Tyler Young (Massena, N.Y./Kanata Lasers) and junior defenseman Kyle Thacker (Mississauga, Ontario/North York Rangers) each scored for Potsdam.

There was no scoring in the first period as both teams combined to go 0-for-3 on the man advantage. Plattsburgh outshot the Bears 11-7.

The contest's first three goals were scored in the first 5:58 of the second period. Young beat Cardinals senior goalie Brady Rouleau (Ford MacLeod, Alberta/Quinnipiac) to open the scoring at 2:16. Just 58 seconds later, Plattsburgh junior defenseman Ayrton Valente (Woodbridge, Ontario/Mississauga Chargers) tied the game. Freshman forward Joe Drabin (Rochester, N.Y./Wenatchee Wild) scored a power-play goal at 5:58 and the Cardinals never trailed again. McMenimen made 16 more saves, but the Bears found themselves down 2-1 entering the second intermission.

Plattsburgh killed off a penalty 2:36 into the third period, but Potsdam evened the game seven seconds later. Thacker struck at 2:43 with assists from freshman forward Bryce Ferrell (East Amherst, N.Y./Buffalo Jr. Sabres) and junior forward Dylan Vander Esch (San Jose, Calif./Hartford Wolfpack). McMenimen turned aside all 15 shots he faced in the third to force overtime.

At 3:22, Cardinals sophomore defenseman Jakob Engvall (Jonkoping, Sweden/Ogden Mustangs) scored the game-winner on a high shot from between the faceoff circles.

Rouleau made 28 saves on the night. Plattsburgh was 1-for-6 on the man advantage and Potsdam was 0-for-4.

After their last home game, the Bears honored seniors Nick Casacci (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Connecticut Oilers), Alex Goodhue (Traverse City, Mich./Atlanta Jr. Knights), Tommy Telesca (Selden, N.Y./New York Bobcats), Logan Brown (North Woodstock, N.H./Boston Rangers), Vinny Caligiuri (Shoreham, N.Y./Hartford Wolfpack) and Jake Butler (Atlanta, Ga./Smith Falls Bears).

Potsdam wraps up the season next weekend when the Bears travel to Brockport and Geneseo.