POTSDAM, N.Y.— Junior forward Ben Firlit (South Glens Falls, N.Y./South Glens Falls) recorded his first career hat trick as the SUNY Potsdam men's soccer team (7-6-1, 2-3 SUNYAC) rolled past SUNY New Paltz (3-10-1, 0-5-1) 5-0 on Saturday afternoon. Junior forward Stephen Auyer (Oswego, N.Y./Oswego) and senior forward Eduardo Figueroa (Rochester, N.Y./Dr. Freddie Thomas) also scored for the Bears.

Firlit got Potsdam on the board even faster on Saturday than he did the previous afternoon. Less than a minute into the contest, senior defender Travis Jordan (Canton, N.Y./Hugh C. Williams) lobbed a cross into the box and Firlit headed it past Hawks senior goalkeeper Andres Montoya (Levittown, N.Y./Division Avenue) for a 1-0 lead. Firlit struck again in the 21st minute. Junior midfielder Tom Benedetto (Queensbury, N.Y./Queensbury) sent the ball ahead and it deflected off a New Paltz defender. Firlit picked up the ball for a breakaway, drew Montoya out to the right side of the box and fired it into the empty net. The Hawks answered with some pressure of their own, finishing the half with five corners. However, the score remained 2-0 at the break.

Auyer added some insurance in the 52nd minute. Senior captain Alex Minsker (Brewster, N.Y./Brewster) sent a long pass ahead, Auyer caught in stride and lofted it over Montoya to make it 3-0. After the goal, senior goalkeeper Steven Domino (Valatie, N.Y./Ichabod Crane) replaced Montoya. In the 67th minute, Firlit completed his hat trick, tapping home a perfect give-and-go from Benedetto right in front of the goal. A few minutes later, New Paltz got it's best chance of the game as senior defender Michael Levko's (Hicksville, N.Y./Hicksville) header was robbed by Bears sophomore goalie Nick Davies (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas). At the 84:09 mark, Figueroa capped the scoring with his 26th career goal, driving home a pass from Auyer.

Davies earned the victory with three saves in the first 81:23 before giving way to junior Jesse Kohler (Middletown, N.Y./Minisink Valley) for the remainder of the contest. Montoya was tagged with the loss after allowing three goals and recording two saves in 58:50. Domino surrendered the final two goals and made two stops in the final 31:10.

Potsdam outshot New Paltz 19-12 and edged the Hawks in corners 6-5.

Potsdam's five goals are the most against a conference opponent since the Bears defeated SUNYIT 5-0 on Sept. 21, 2002.

The Bears hit the road again next weekend for tough conference matchups with Buffalo State and Fredonia. Potsdam faces the Bengals at 3 p.m. on Friday and the Blue Devils at 1 p.m. on Saturday.