POTSDAM -- The SUNY Potsdam men’s soccer team defeated D’Youville 3-1 in the first game of the first SUNY Potsdam Men’s Soccer College Cup.

Freshman midfielder Alessio Vitale (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) assisted on all three goals for the Bears.

In the other game, Elmira downed Lyndon State 3-0.

Potsdam controlled the play in the first half, outshooting the Spartans 15-3, but created few quality scoring chances.

D’Youville sophomore goalkeeper Matt Smith (Bergen, N.Y./Byron-Bergen) made seven saves to help keep the game scoreless by the half. The Bears were more aggressive in the second 45 minutes.

At the 55:39 mark, Vitale set up freshman forward Paul Gabriel (Greenvale, N.Y./North Shore) in front of the net for a 1-0 Potsdam lead.

Two minutes later, Vitale fed junior defender Sean Atkinson (Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Sachem East), who fought his way through two defenders for the Bears’ second goal.

In the 82nd minute, Vitale assisted on freshman forward Stephen Auyer’s (Oswego, N.Y./Oswego) insurance marker. Potsdam nearly posted the shutout, but junior midfielder Neil Janes (Lee Center, N.Y./Rome Free Academy) headed in a cross from junior forward Josh Pfuntner (Wayland, N.Y./Wayland-Cohocton) with 32 seconds to go.

Potsdam outshot D’Youville by a 32-5 count. Bears junior goalkeeper Joe Glackin (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) made two saves in 86:50 and freshman Mitchell Lee (Seoul, South Korea/Seoul American) allowed the goal in the remaining 3:10. Smith finished with 14 saves for the Spartans.

In the later game, Elmira got two goals in the final five minutes of the first half from sophomore midfielder Matthew Feldman (Guilford, Conn./Guilford) and senior midfielder Edward Michelson (Winstead, Conn./Cheshire Academy).

Sophomore midfielder Josh Rumble (Yorktown, Va./York) netted the third goal in the 66th minute to defeat Lyndon State 3-0. Senior goalkeeper Jared Micheller (Avon, Conn./Winchendon School) made three saves for the shutout.

Hornets’ freshman goalie Jason Marks stopped five shots and allowed all three goals in 77:08. Lyndon State senior Dustin Ameden (Jamaica, Vt.) played the final 12:52, making three saves. D’Youville (1-3) and Lyndon State (2-2) square off in the consolation game at noon today.

The Bears (2-0-1) will battle Elmira (2-0) for the Cup in the championship at 2 p.m.