Thursday, April 25, 2024 | St. Lawrence County, NY
BROCKPORT, N.Y.—SUNY Potsdam senior captain Alex Griffith (Henrietta, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta) scored with 54 seconds left to lift the SUNY Potsdam men's soccer team (10-5-1, 4-3-1 SUNYAC) to a …
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BROCKPORT, N.Y.—SUNY Potsdam senior captain Alex Griffith (Henrietta, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta) scored with 54 seconds left to lift the SUNY Potsdam men's soccer team (10-5-1, 4-3-1 SUNYAC) to a playoff-clinching 2-1 victory at Brockport on Friday afternoon. The win was the Bears' 10th of the season, setting a new program record. It was also Potsdam's first over Brockport since 2003. Junior forward Brandon Laurin (Chazy, N.Y./Chazy) also scored for the Bears and senior goalkeeper Jesse Kohler (Middletown, N.Y./Tompkins-Cortland C.C.) made a career-high nine saves.
The Golden Eagles held the edge in play during the first half. Brockport managed to get five shots on goal in the opening 45 minutes, but Kohler kept the Golden Eagles off the board. Potsdam was able to convert on its best opportunity of the first half in the 16th minute. At 15:32, Laurin buried a cross from sophomore defender Matthew Wagner (Bronxville, N.Y./Bronxville) to make it 1-0. The Bears held the lead into the break.
Brockport evened the score in the 51st minute. Peter DiLorenzo finally solved Kohler after a cross from Quintin Volpe. Despite the goal, the Potsdam evened the play. Junior defender Matt Parsons (Glens Falls, N.Y./Glens Falls) nearly put the Bears back in front 12 minutes later, but the shot clanged off the post. Potsdam kept pressing and the effort paid off. At the 89:06 mark, senior captain Tom Benedetto (Queensbury, N.Y./Queensbury) send a pass across the box and Griffith stepped up to drive it home.
Casey Sullivan made three saves for the Golden Eagles. Brockport outshot Potsdam 24-11 and finished with a 6-2 advantage in corners. The Bears have now won three in a row and and halt the Golden Eagles' winning streak at five.
The Bears can now finish anywhere from second place through sixth, with just two points separating Plattsburgh, Brockport, Potsdam, Buffalo State and Cortland. The top four team earn home playoff games for the postseason.
The Bears battle for home field when they wrap up conference play at Geneseo tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m.
