POTSDAM, N.Y. – The Spartans were even 2-2 after the first quarter, but couldn't overcome a 7-1 scoring edge in the second as SUNY Potsdam earned a 14-8 victory on a rainy Wednesday evening. 

Castleton held the Bears to just five goals in the second half while also scoring five, but turned the ball over 28 times in the contest and was outshot 43-27 overall to drop to 1-3. Potsdam won 14 of 24 faceoffs and picked up 40 ground balls while improving to 3-1. 

Seven different players scored in the contest, led by Kyle Lutinski with two goals and one assist. Sam Siegal added one goal, one assist and two ground balls while Wyatt Pickrell chipped in one goal and two ground balls. Peyton Faasse picked up a team-high seven ground balls while winning 8 of 13 faceoffs. 

Eric Soderquist scored eight goals to pace the Bears' offense, while Pat Bonafede dished off four assists. Lindsey Pound added seven ground balls and seven caused turnovers. 

Potsdam opened up the scoring at 11:22, but Pickrell put the Spartans on the board with 7:31 left to tie it up. Taylor Swarter then gave Castleton a 2-1 advantage with 2:04 left. Soderquist evened it up one minute later for a 2-2 after at the end of the first. 

Soderquist scored at 10:45 of the second and the team's traded goals over the next 2:43, leaving the Spartans down just 4-3. However, the Bears scored the final five goals of period for the 9-3 advantage. 

In the third, Lutinski cut into the lead at 12:00, but four consecutive goals made it a 12-4 contest. Siegal scored unassisted with 26 seconds lefs and Castleton actually outscored Potsdam 4-2 over the last 16 minutes of action for the 14-8 final. 

Freshman Romello Lindsey took the loss in net as he started and allowed nine goals while making six saves in net. Peter Latulippe played the second half, giving up five goals and stopping eight shots. Pete Gropp earned the win as he made nine saves while allowing eight goals.

The Spartans return to action on Saturday when they host Mount Ida at 2 pm.