POTSDAM -- The SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey team (8-11-2, 6-6-0 SUNYAC) got game-winning performances from senior forward Mike Foy (Markham, Ontario/Welland Canadians) and senior goalie Kevin McFarland (St. Louis, Mo./Woodstock Slammers) to down Fredonia State (10-8-3, 5-5-3) 4-3 in overtime Saturday.

Foy notched the game-winning goal with 28 seconds left in extra time and McFarland stopped 49 shots.

Sophomore forward Mike Arnold (Didsbury, Alberta/Kingston Voyageurs) also scored two goals for the Bears.

Fredonia outshot Potsdam 14-7 in the first period. The Blue Devils created multiple strong scoring chances, but McFarland made several big saves to keep the game close.

Fredonia finally broke through at the 13:23 mark as sophomore Steve Wicklum (Charlotte, N.C./King City Wild) scored on a shot from between the faceoff circles. Sophomore forward Mike Zanella (Ithaca, N.Y./Cornwall Colts) assisted on the play.

The Blue Devils carried the 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

The Bears made the most of their opportunities in the second period. On the power play at 1:48, Arnold buried a rebound off a shot from freshman defenseman Erick Ware (Huntsville, Ala./Kenai River Brown Bears) to tie the game.

Less than two minutes later, freshman forward Vinny Buttita (Middleburg Heights, Ohio/New York Apple Core) wristed a shot over Fredonia sophomore goalie Mark Friesen’s (Calgary, Alberta/Langley) shoulder after a Blue Devil turnover.

At the 15:48 mark, Arnold stole the puck in the neutral zone and carried it into Fredonia’s end. He then slid the puck under Friesen for a shorthanded marker to put Potsdam up 3-1. McFarland continued to stand tall in goal, stopping all 16 shots he faced in the period.

Fredonia rallied in the third period, outshooting the Bears 21-8.

At 5:02, freshman forward Brian Doust (Calgary Alberta/Canmore) scored a power play goal to cut the lead to 3-2. Sophomore forward Alex Perkins (St. Albert, Alberta/St. Albert) and junior forward Mat Hehr (Sherwood Park, Alberta/Sherwood Park) recorded assists.

At the 12:54 mark, Perkins set up freshman forward Stephen Castriota (Bellport, N.Y./New York Bobcats) to tie the game at 3-3. The Blue Devils continued to press, but McFarland kept the Bears even.

Potsdam outplayed Fredonia in overtime, compiling a 5-1 advantage in shots.

Freshman forward Trevor Cope (Swartz Creek, Mich./Atlanta Jr. Knights) nearly won the game with 34 seconds left, but Friesen smothered the breakaway attempt.

Six seconds later it was Foy who became the hero, scoring on a rebound. Sophomore defenseman Nick Avgerinos (Bolton, Ontario/Georgetown Raiders) and Ware picked up the assists.

Friesen finished with 30 saves. The Bears were 1-1 on the power play and the Blue Devils went 1-5.

“Mike Foy has really invested himself in what we wanted to do this year,” said Potsdam Head Coach Chris Bernard. “He’s emptied the tank for us every single day. I decided to play a hunch and give him some more ice time late and it paid off.”

Bernard also saved plenty of praise for Arnold and his goaltender.

“Welcome back Mike Arnold. Our penalty kill has improved dramatically since he’s come back from injury,” added Bernard.

“And I don’t know what more you can say about McFarland. He made big saves at key times and on the penalty kill he swallowed rebounds and didn’t give them any second chance opportunities.”

The victory was the Bears’ first over Fredonia since Nov. 1, 2008 and puts them in sole possession of fifth place, just a point out of third in the SUNYAC.

Potsdam is back in action on Friday, Feb. 10, when the Bears head to Geneseo for a 7 p.m. contest. Potsdam downed the Ice Knights 7-3 in Maxcy on Nov. 18.