Third period lifts Morrisville State hockey to 5-3 win over SUNY Potsdam

The Morrisville State College men's ice hockey team scored three unanswered goals in the final period as they posted a 5-3 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) victory over host SUNY Potsdam Friday night in Potsdam.



Morrisville State improves to 3-13-1 overall, 2-6-1 in SUNYAC play, while Potsdam drops to 6-9-2, 4-5 in conference action.



Playing to a scoreless opening period, Potsdam took a 2-0 lead midway through the second, breaking the silence with a tally at the 9:45 mark and adding another nearly four minutes later on a power play opportunity.



Morrisville State answered with two straight tallies from Daniel Morello (Vaughan, Ont.), the first a man advantage score at 18:49, before posting another just 11 seconds later.



Despite the rally in the second, Potsdam added their third of the period with 26 seconds to go to take the 3-2 lead at the end of two.



In the third, the Mustangs took advantage of a 6-on-4 opportunity and Todd Hosmer (Scarborough, Ont.) put his 13th score of the season in the back of the net, tying the game at three with 8:14 remaining on the clock.



With just under three minutes to go, Ryan Marcuz (Richmond Hill, Ont.) gave Morrisville State their first lead of the contest, firing the unassisted score, and eventual game winner, past Potsdam netminder Dylan Ellis for the 4-3 advantage.



Jamie Nelson (Stratford, Ont.) put the game away for the Mustangs, netting the third tally of the period at 18:59 as Morrisville State collected the conference victory.



Christopher Azzano (Oshawa, Ont.) recorded the win between the pipes for Morrisville State, turning away 33 on the night, including eight in the final period.



Ellis had 36 stops for the Bears, 14 in the third period, as Morrisville State posted the 41-36 advantage in shots on net in the contest and converted 2-of-4 power plays.



The Mustangs return to the ice tomorrow night, traveling to #3 nationally ranked Plattsburgh for a 7 p.m. contest.