POTSDAM, N.Y.--- The SUNY Potsdam men's soccer team (2-1-1) defeated the Sage Colleges (0-3) 4-1 Saturday in their most impressive game of the young season. Junior forward Alejandro Callejas (Brentwood, N.Y./Brentwood) was aggressive all afternoon and scored twice. Senior midfielder Matt Saddlemire (Gansevoort, N.Y./Schuylerville) and freshman forward Jhonny Mendoza (Brentwood, N.Y./Brentwood) also scored for the Bears. Junior goalie Jakeb Mitchell (Brockport, N.Y./Brockport) only needed three saves for his 10 career victory and is now tied for sixth on the program's all-time list.

The contest started evenly, but Potsdam began bringing the pressure midway through the first half. At the 18:26 mark, junior midfielder Teddy Bruschini (Highland Mills, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) was robbed by Gators senior goalie Michael Chiaravalloti (Torrington, Conn./Oliver Wolcott) on a direct kick. However, Saddlemire didn't give up on the play and scored on the rebound to put the Bears up 1-0. The Gators had few scoring opportunities in the first half as the Bears defense remained alert and physical. They were outshot 10-4 in the opening period, but still managed to get even at 40:31. After Potsdam was called for a foul, sophomore Jeaneste Pierre (Newburgh, N.Y./Newburgh Free Acad.) took a pass off a free kick and was able to catch the defense off guard. Just inside the box, he spun around buried a goal in the right side of the net. Pierre was assisted by sophomore midfielder Nate Franchi (Schenectady, N.Y./Colonie). The game was tied at a goal apiece heading into the second half.

In the 49th minute, the Bears took advantage of a penalty kick when Mendoza fired a bullet past the keeper to put the home team up 2-1. Then at the 80-minute mark, senior midfielder Jorge Ferrer (Syracuse, N.Y./Henniger) fed the ball behind the defense to Callejas who kicked the ball into the top of the net for a 3-1 Bears advantage. The goal chased Chiaravalloti from the goal. He was replaced by freshman Lucas Bourdeau (Castleton-on-Hudson, N.Y./Maple Hill). Callejas' second goal of the game came in similar fashion. Only this time, the pass came from junior midfielder Danny Anglim (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point). He timed his kick perfectly for third Potsdam goal of the half. The Gators struggled the entire 45 minutes to get into the flow of things. All three of their second half shots came late and only one reached Mitchell.

Chiaravalloti allowed three goals and made six saves in 80 minutes and Bourdeau allowed one goal in the last 10.

Potsdam outshot the Gators 22-7 and had a 7-2 advantage in corner kicks.

The Bears host the Castleton Spartans tomorrow at 1 p.m.