Buffalo, NY—The 2003 SUNYAC Challenge wrapped up this evening with Fredonia capturing the championship with a 4-3 win over Potsdam. Cortland defeated host Buffalo State 9-4 in the late game.

In the early game, Fredonia (2-0) defeated Potsdam (1-1), 4-3. Freshman Matt Zeman (Rocky River, OH) scored two goals for the Blue Devils, including the eventual game-winner. Tom Briggs (Fruitport, MI) scored for the Blue Devils putting them up 2-0 after one frame. Potsdam would cut the lead to one early in the second on a Greg Lee (Almonte, ONT) goal. Erik Hlavaty (Hamburg, NY) scored for Fredonia to make the score 3-1, but Potsdam’s Tim Powers (Glen Falls, NY) scored a goal less than a minute later to make the game 3-2. Zeman chipped in the game-winner with under four minutes to go in the second. Jason Brothers (Orleans, ONT) would finish the day’s scoring with a goal late in the third period. Rob Stanley (New York, NY) made 23 saves in net for the Blue Devils.

In the nightcap, Cortland captured second place in the tournament with a 9-4 win over host Buffalo State. Junior Tim Earl (Troy, NY) scored the game-winning goal for the Red Dragons. Forward Nate Gagnon (Wilton, NY) had a hat-trick in Cortland’s win. Mike DeMarco (Niagara Falls, NY) netted his second of the year, as four different Bengals scored in the game. Anthony Destefano (Boca Raton, FL) and Ryan Marvin (Newbury Park, CA) scored their first career goals in a Buffalo State uniform Greg Prybylski (Cheektowaga, NY) also scored for Buffalo State. Senior Mark Paine (Saratoga Springs, NY) had 42 saves in the win for Cortland.

Tournament MVP: ErikHlavaty (Fredonia)

All Tournament Team: Sean O’Connell (Buffalo State), Nate Gagnon (Cortland), Kevin Watters (Cortland), Matt Zemen (Fredonia), Greg Lee (Potsdam)