MASSSENA - Fredonia State (4-2, 3-1) scored three unanswered goals to down the SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey team (2-2, 1-2) 3-1 at Massena Arena on Friday night. Freshman forward Mike Riley (Brantford, Ontario) scored his first collegiate goal for the Bears.

Both sides played tight defense early on and prevented quality scoring chances. The after an unsuccessful power play Potsdam jumped out in front.

Senior captain Brett Waters (Uxbridge, Ontario) connected with Riley in the neutral zone. Riley let a slap shot fly from the blue line and Blue Devil junior goalie Mark Friesen (Calgary, Alberta/Langley) stopped the shot. However, the puck popped up in the air and tumbled over Friesen into the net for a 1-0 Bears advantage. Potsdam freshman goalie Austin Keiser (Dunwoody, Ga.) stopped all eight shots he faced in the first period.

Fredonia pressured the Bears defense for much of the second 20 minutes, but didn’t break through until just over four minutes left in the period.

Freshman forward Chad Bennett (Burlington, Ontario) fired a shot from the left faceoff dot and ringing the post to knot the score at 1-1. Sophomore forward Stephen Castriota (Bellport, N.Y.) and senior forward Matt Hehr (Sherwood Park, Alberta/Sherwood Park) each assisted on the goal. Potsdam responded with a late flurry of its own, but couldn’t regain the lead before the break.

The Blue Devils jumped out in front just 1:58 into the final period as freshman forward Taylor Bourne (Calgary, Alberta) jammed a rebound past Keiser. Junior forward Alex Perkins (St. Albert, Alberta) and sophomore defenseman Cory Melkert (Ottawa, Ontario) recorded the assists. At the 13:22 mark, senior forward Will McLaughlin (Mountain Top, Pa.) scored off a deflection with helpers from senior forward Chris Jung (Sandy, Utah) and Castriota. The Bears pulled Keiser with 1:15 left on the power play, but couldn’t get any closer.

Keiser finished with 28 saves, while Friesen stopped 23 shots to earn the win. The Blue Devils outshot the Bears 31-24. Both teams were 0-3 on the power play.

Potsdam is back in action tonight as the Bears host Buffalo State at Massena Arena at 7 p.m.

POTSDAM WOMEN BLANKED

Bridget Smith made 22 saves to lead the Lakers past SUNY Potsdam (0-4, 0-2) in a SUNYAC game in Oswego.

Lizzy Marks, Emma Smetaniuk, Mady Paul and Chelsea Hunt scored for SUNY Oswego (2-2-1, 2-1).

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