POTSDAM, N.Y.—Senior goaltender Brendan McMenimen (Merrimack, Mass./Islander Hockey Club) gave the SUNY Potsdam men's hockey team (10-9-5, 6-7-2 SUNYAC) the best performance of his collegiate career when they needed it most. Senior forward Joey Gillhooly (Brooklyn, N.Y./New York Bobcats) scored a power play goal 3:41 into the contest and McMenimen did the rest, shutting out No. 3 Oswego State (18-4-2, 13-1-1) 1-0 with 42 saves. The victory clinched Potsdam's third playoff berth in the last four seasons and handed the Lakers their lone SUNYAC defeat of the season.

After former Bear Trent Durocher was whistled for high sticking at the 3:35 mark of the first period, Gilhooly made him pay seven seconds later. Senior captain Kyle Thacker (Mississauga, Ontario/North York Rangers) and senior assistant captain Dylan Vander Esch (San Jose, Calif./Hartford Wolfpack) each assisted on the goal. Vander Esch is now just three points shy of joining the program's 100-point club. McMenimen and Potsdam killed off two penalties as the period expired. The goaltender had 16 stops in the opening 20 minutes.

Oswego had three man advantages in the second period, but again were frustrated. McMenimen made 12 more saves in the middle stanza.

Each team had a fruitless power play in the third period. McMenimen slammed the door the rest of the way with a final 14 saves. The Lakers pulled SUNYAC Goalie of the Week David Richer with 1:10 remaining, but couldn't beat McMenimen.

Richer made 19 saves on the evening. Oswego outshot Potsdam 42-20 and was 0-for-6 on the power play. The Bears were 1-for-3.

Potsdam stands alone in fourth place and could finish anywhere from fourth to sixth. However, a win at Cortland tomorrow night would give them their second home playoff game in four years.

The Bears face the Red Dragons at 7 p.m. tomorrow night.