AMHERST, Massachuestts -- Eric Updike (Hyde Park, NY) notched an empty-net goal to seal the Championship for Potsdam in the Western Mass Tourney. The Bears defeated Williams 5-3 tonight at Orr Rink in Amherst, Massachusetts.
The Bears took a 4-1 lead into the third period where Williams scored 67 seconds into the final stanza on a power play goal by junior Jeff Russell (Arlington, MA). The Ephs cut the lead to one on Jon Collins's (Saugus, MA) second goal of the night. However, 36 saves by Bear netminder Scott Jones held off the Ephs for the title.
Potsdam improves to 7-6-2 for the season and will host Elmira on Friday. Williams falls to 6-2 and look forward to an ECAC-East matchup with Trinity on January 9.
Potsdam (7-6-2) 2 2 1 -- 5 Williams (6-2) 1 0 2 -- 3 Per. Time Team Goal by Assist(s) 1 4:10 Pot Eric Curtis Sean Trygested 1 11:04 Pot Nathan Sunday David Fink, Curtis 1 16:44 Wms Jon Collins (pp) Phil Deguire 2 8:13 Pot Keith Hughes Trygested, Brett Joly 2 9:44 Pot Max Mnatsakanov Eric Updike, Stephen Naughton 3 1:07 Wms Jeff Russell (pp) Bobby Moss 3 2:45 Wms Collins Eric Demment 3 19:26 Pot Updike (empty net) Goalie Saves Min 1 2 3 -- F P Scott Jones 60:00 9 13 14 -- 36 W Dave Haimson 60:00 13 11 6 -- 30 Penalties: P 8 for 16 minutes, W 9 for 26 minutes. Power Play: P 0 for 5, W 2 for 4. # # # 1/4/98