UTICA, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's hockey team (7-6-3) erased a 1-0 deficit with three straight goals before No. 8/10 Utica College (12-3) battled back for a 5-4 win on Saturday night.

Senior assistant captain Dylan Vander Esch (San Jose, Calif./Hartford Wolfpack) recorded his sixth career hat trick and sophomore forward Vinny Guimond (Sorel-Tracy, Quebec/Gloucester Rangers) registered a goal and an assist. Senior captain Kyle Thacker (Mississauga, Ontario/North York Rangers) picked up three assists.

A power play just over midway through the first period gave the Pioneers the first goal of the game as Jacob Gerson scored at 11:24. The lead lasted nearly six minutes, until the Potsdam was able to capitalize on a man advantage of its own. Vander Esch netted his first to even the score at 17:23. Thacker and Guimond assisted on the goal. Bears senior goalie Brendan McMenimen (Merrimack, Mass./Islanders Hockey Club) and Utica goalie Patrik Virtanen handled everything else and the score remained tied after 20 minutes.

The teams combined for four goals in the second period. Guimond gave the Bears the lead at the 7:09 mark with an assist from junior forward Mike Sweeney (Pittsburgh, Pa./PAL Islanders). Vander Esch extended the advantage to two goals with his second of the night at 11:16. Senior assistant captain Sean Kacerosky (Kendall Park, N.J./New York Bobcats) and Thacker recorded the assists. Just as Potsdam looked like it was going to pull away, Utica used power plays to fight its way back. Zach Borsoi scored score on the man advantage at 16:26. The Bears were whistled for holding with 1:20 left in the period. Potsdam was close to escaping into the second intermission, but fell just short. Mikhail Bushinski buried the equalizer with just 20 seconds left and the teams went into the break even at 3-3.

At 5:07 of the third period, Anthony McVeigh gave the Pioneers their lead back with an even strength marker. After killing off a Potsdam power play with under six minutes to go, Utica struck again. Brett Everson made it 5-3 at 14:25. With 1:56 left, the Bears pulled McMenimen after going on their final power play and made the most of the opportunity. Thacker set up Vander Esch to complete the hat trick at 19:15. Unfortunately, Potsdam ran out of time after the goal.

McMenimen finished with 32 saves and Virtanen stopped 27 shots. Utica outshot the Bears 37-31 and went 3-for-6 on the power play, while Potsdam was 2-for-6.

With his three goals, Vander Esch is just 10 away from reaching the Bears' 100-point club.

Potsdam heads to Morrisville State next Friday to resume SUNYAC play with a two-game series.