POTSDAM, N.Y. – The Spartans saw their five-game winning come to an emphatic halt as Potsdam took care of the visiting Castleton 16-4 on a snowy Saturday afternoon in Potsdam. 

The Bears scored the opening three goals and dominated play through the first three quarters, to improve to 6-3 on the year. Castleton was only outshot 38-36 as the team dropped to 6-4 overall. 

Despite being outshot by just two, the Spartans couldn't figure out starter Ryan Duffy, who made 15 saves while allowing just three goals in the opening 45 minutes. Rob Kunz led the Potsdam offense with three goals and six assists while Ed Doherty scored six times and dished off one assist. 

Castleton's Zach Davidson had a hand in all four of the team's goals, scoring three times and dishing off an assist. Freshman Louis Alhage added two assists while Owen Hartman had four ground balls and three caused turnovers on defense. 

Potsdam scored three times in the first eight minutes, prompting a Spartan timeout. Out of the break, Alex Green found Davidson to cut it to 3-1. However, the Bears scored four straight between the end of the first quarter and beginning of the second to stretch their lead to 7-1. 

Davidson finally ended the run with a goal off a pass from Alhage at 10:30 to make it a five-goal game and following a Potsdam score, Davidson found Green to close the gap to 8-3. Penalties hurt the Spartans in the final 6:20 as they gave up a pair of man-up goals and one more at even strength to go into the half down 11-3. 

The third quarter belonged to the Bears as they outscored Castleton 4-0 to stretch the lead 15-3. In the fourth, Doherty made it 16-1 with 11:22 left. The Spartans finally broke the eight-goal run as Alhage once again connected with Davidson with 8:19 remaining. 

Peter Latulippe look the loss for Castleton in net, though he only played the first seven minutes and allowed three goals on five shots. Sam Polas played the next 30:16 and made seven saves while giving up 12 goals. Conner Garand finished the game and was impressive, making four saves and allowing one goal in 22:44. 

Davidson's four points on the day give him 252 points for his career, breaking Castleton's program record of 249 set by Geoff Simons. The junior now has 128 career goals and a school-record 124 career assists.

The Spartans return to action on Tuesday when they travel to face Southern Maine at 4 pm.