POTSDAM, N.Y. – The SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey team surrendered a pair of early goals, which proved to be the difference in a 4-3 defeat against No. 7 Geneseo in a State University of New York Athletic Conference contest concluded Sunday at Clarkson University’s Cheel Arena.

The game, which began Saturday night at Maxcy Hall Ice Arena, had been suspended to Sunday following the first period due to an ice malfunction during the intermission. The Blue Knights led 3-1 after the first period.

“I’d like to commend the players and staff at Geneseo for being tremendously professional about the whole situation,” Potsdam coach Chris Bernard said. “It’s a mental strain on everybody to make this thing go. I want to thank Scott Smalling and all the people here at Clarkson for being willing to help us out so quickly. They’ve been tremendously accommodating to us.”

Potsdam (5-12-1 overall, 3-7 SUNYAC) received two goals from freshman Mike Arnold (Didsbury, Alberta) and one from senior Kevin MacLellan (Kensington, Prince Edward Island). Junior goaltender Kevin O’Neill (Bobcaygeon, Ontario) totaled 31 saves.

The Bears allowed Geneseo (12-5-2, 6-3-1) scored twice in the opening minutes of the contest, and the Blue Knights didn’t look back.

“We just have to get more pucks in the net,” Bernard said. “We made a concerted effort to shoot the puck in the third period, and lo and behold, the best games we’ve played all year long are when we get shots at the net.”

Potsdam scored twice in the third period to narrow a three-goal deficit through two periods to 4-3. MacLellan scored on a power play opportunity just under a minute into the frame, with assists from sophomore Brett Waters (Uxbridge, Ontario) and senior Colin MacLennan (Whitby, Ontario). Arnold scored his second goal of the contest with 8:47 to play, taking passes from Waters and junior Sy Nutkevitch (Montreal, Quebec).

The Bears had chances in the Geneseo zone to complete the rally, but were unable to find the back of the net before the final buzzer sounded.

Potsdam wraps up its 2010-11 home schedule next weekend against No. 1 Oswego on Friday at 7 p.m. and versus Cortland on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Fans are encouraged to “Pack the Place” on Friday in an attempt to break Maxcy Hall Ice Arena’s attendance record.

Saturday’s game marks the finale of Hockey Day in Potsdam, a tripleheader of hockey action featuring three North Country teams. Prior to the Bears, Potsdam Central High School takes on Thousand Island at 1 p.m. at Maxcy, while Clarkson, an NCAA Division I program, hosts Princeton at 4 p.m. at CU’s Cheel Arena. Proceeds from ticket sales specifically for the event benefit Cpl. Aaron Howell, a Marine from Parishville, N.Y., who was severely injured during a tour in Afghanistan last April.