POTSDAM, N.Y.—The fourth-ranked Oswego State Lakers (7-1-1, 5-0-1 SUNYAC) scored three in the first and four in the second to defeat the SUNY Potsdam men's hockey team (7-3-1, 3-3) 7-1 on Friday night. Senior assistant captain Sean Kacerosky (Kendall Park, N.J./New York Bobcats) scored for the Bears.

After playing evenly through the first half of the opening period, the Lakers finally broke through. After a Potsdam turnover, senior forward Mitchell Herlihey (Ottawa, Ontario/Nepean Raiders) beat Bears senior goalie Brendan McMenimen (Merrimack, Mass./Islanders Hockey Club) on the backhand at 9:50 to make it 1-0. Just 52 seconds later, Oswego freshman forward Josh Zizek (St. Catherines, Ontario/Nepean Raiders) deflected a shot from the point into the back of the net to double the score. Zizek struck again on a very similar play with 1:42 left in the period and the Lakers took a 3-0 lead into the intermission.

Oswego took advantage of a power play 2:26 into the second period. Freshman forward Tanner Spink (Williamstown, Ontario/Cornwall Colts) made 4-0 after a burying a perfect pass from sophomore forward Joseph Molinaro (Mississauga, Ontario/Niagara University) in the slot. At 3:30, Herlihey fired a shot from the right faceoff circle. McMenimen's left pad got a piece of the puck, but not enough and Potsdam trailed 5-0. The Bears finally solved Lakers sophomore goalie David Richer (Mirabel, Quebec/Kingston Voyageurs) on the power play at the 15:06 mark. Sophomore forward Tyler Young (Massena, N.Y./Kanata Lasers) won the faceoff to freshman defenseman Jon Venter (Guilford, Conn./Syracuse Stars) who poked it to Kacerosky at the left point. Kacerosky then blasted a shot into the top of the net. Penalties filled the final minutes of the period, including a Bears' major. Sophomore defenseman Chris MacMillan (Newmarket, Ontario/Smith Falls Bears) beat Potsdam sophomore goalie Nate Skidmore (Syracuse, N.Y./Buffalo Jr. Sabres) at 19:16 and sophomore forward Mitch Emerson (Pickering, Ontario/Trenton Golden Hawks) repeated the feat nine seconds later.

Oswego outshot Potsdam 16-6 in the third period, largely due to a 5:40 power play to end the contest. However, Skidmore stopped each shot and the score was unchanged after the final 20 minutes.

McMenimen allowed five goals and made 12 saves in the first 23:30. Skidmore finished with 23 stops and two goals against in the last 36:30. Richer improved to 4-0-1 with 24 saves on the night.

The Lakers outshot the Bears 42-25 and went 3-for-7 on the power play. Potsdam finished 1-for-3 on the man advantage.

The Bears wrap up the semester against SUNY Cortland at home tomorrow night at 7 p.m.