POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's soccer team (6-6-1, 1-3 SUNYAC) led fifth-ranked SUNY Oneonta (10-0-1, 4-0-1) for 85:04, but the Red Dragons scored in the 88th and 95th minutes to escape with a 2-1 overtime victory. Junior forward Ben Firlit (South Glens Falls, N.Y./South Glens Falls) scored his team-leading seventh goal for the Bears, while sophomore goalkeeper Nick Davies (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas) was spectacular between the sticks with a career-high 10 saves. Oneonta junior forward Jake Sutherland (Syracuse, N.Y./West Genesee) sent the game to overtime with a header at 87:43 and freshman forward Cory Santangelo (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) won it at 94:17.

Just 2:39 into the contest, Potsdam senior captain Alex Minsker took a long arcing shot from the left side of the box. Red Dragon senior goalie Vincent Pellegrino (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin) dove to his left to make the save, but Firlit was there to bury the rebound. Oneonta responded with good pressure, but Davies kept the contest scoreless through the first half. The Bears struggled to create more offensive opportunities, but had strong play at midfield and on defense.

Oneonta kept the heat on Potsdam in the final period, but could not break through early. Davies made five saves in the second half. With 4:41 remaining Potsdam junior midfielder Tom Benedetto (Queensbury, N.Y./Queensbury) nearly gave the Bears the insurance they needed, but Pellegrino robbed him at the right side of the net. Two and a half minutes later, the Red Dragons made them pay. Oneonta junior midfielder Greg Silvestro (West Sayville, N.Y./Connetquot) launched a corner kick into the Bears box and Sutherland headed it home to tie the score. With 50 seconds remaining in regulation, Santangelo hit the crossbar with a shot and Davies pulled it out of the air before it crossed the line.

In overtime, Davies made his final save on a shot off the foot of senior midfielder Mitchell Cain (Marcy, N.Y./Whitesboro) in the 94th minute. Just over a minute later, junior midfielder Sean Vinberg (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) sent a direct kick to the left side of the box. Santangelo beat Davies to the ball and sent it home to end the contest.

Pellegrino made two saves to improve to 6-0-1 on the year.

The Bears will look to bounce back tomorrow afternoon when they host SUNY New Paltz at 1 p.m.