POTSDAM, N.Y.-Freshman forward Dylan Vander Esch (San Jose, Calif./Hartford Wolfpack) scored three goals to lead the SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey team (6-8-2) to a 6-1 victory over the University of New England (1-11-2) on Saturday night at Maxcy Ice Arena. Sophomore forward Logan Brown (North Woodstock, N.H./Boston Rangers) scored his first collegiate goal for the Bears.
Vander Esch got Potsdam on the board with a power-play goal just 4:31 into the contest. Sophomore forward Jake Butler (Atlanta, Ga./Smith Falls Bears) assisted on the goal. Seven minutes later, senior assistant captain Ken Simon (Norwell, Mass./Philadelphia Revolution) buried the eventual game-winner with helpers from senior defenseman Dan McCamey (Dayton, Ohio/Minnesota Flying Aces) and junior captain Todd Thomas (Davidsville, Pa./Hartford Wolfpack).
Vander Esch struck again at the 2:58 mark of the second period, finishing a feed from junior forward Billy Pascalli (Deer Park, N.Y./New York Bobcats), to make it a 3-0 contest. Potsdam dominated the middle stanza, outshooting the Golden Bears 22-9, but was unable to solve WNE senior goalie Tim Carr (Pine Bush, N.Y./N.H. Monarchs) before the second intermission.
Potsdam broke the game open with three goals in the third. Brown scored at 13:07 with assists from freshman defenseman Kyle Thacker (Mississauga, Ontario/North York Rangers) and senior forward Zach Blake (Campbellford, Ontario/SUNY Plattsburgh). Four minutes later, sophomore forward Tommy Telesca (Selden, N.Y./New York Bobcats) made it a 5-0 contest with Thacker’s second assist. With 1:42 remaining, Vander Esch completed the hat trick with assists from Thomas and McCamey. However, the shutout evaded Potsdam as Golden Bears junior forward Chris Lembo (Southington, Conn./Springfield Pics) made the Bears pay for a turnover in their own zone at 18:53.
In goal, Potsdam junior Jon Hall (Dexter, N.Y./Stouffville Spirit) made 33 saves to earn his single season best sixth victory of the season. Carr completed his strong day with 51 stops.
Potsdam outshot WNE 57-34. The Golden Bears were 0-for-4 on the man advantage and the Bears were 1-for-4.
Potsdam returns to SUNYAC play next weekend when they travel to No. 3 SUNY Plattsburgh on Friday, Jan. 23. The puck drops at 7 p.m.
