POTSDAM -- So much for entering the playoffs with some momentum.

Potsdam State scored three goals in the third period Friday night and rallied past Plattsburgh State, 4-2, in State University of New York Athletic Conference men's hockey.

The playoff-bound Bears, avenging an 11-1 early-season loss to the Cardinals, finished 6-7-3 in the conference and 9-12-4 overall. Plattsburgh State, which had already wrapped up the SUNYAC regular season title, fell to 14-2 in the conference and 21-4 overall.

A disappointed Plattsburgh State head coach Bob Emery pulled no punches.

"I'm beside myself," he said. "I can't believe that in a game of this magnitude, we couldn't find the leadership, emotion hard work and dedication that it takes. There are hockey players across the country who would kill for an opportunity to play in a game of this magnitude."

"Potsdam wanted the game more -- they fought, scratched and clawed. They were the more deserving team and I give them all the credit for the win."

The Cardinals took a 2-1 lead into the third period.

Greg Lee, however, tied it with a power-play goal at 10:43 and then Colin MacLennan scored not long after, at 12:19, to put the Bears ahead to stay.

Fraser Smith added an empty-net goal at 18:44 after Plattsburgh State had pulled goaltender Bryan Hince for an extra skater.

Mike Thomson gave the Cardinals the lead with 9:30 gone in the first period.

Luke Beck tied it for Potsdam at the 6:07 mark of the second before Joey Wilson's power-play goal put Plattsburgh State back on top, at 2-1, at 9:03.

Plattsburgh State held a 37-28 advantage in shots on goal. Rob Barnhardt stopped 35 of 37 shots between the pipes for the Bears and Hince made 24 saves on 27 shots in a losing effort.

Plattsburgh State went one-for-six on the powerplay and the Bears, one-for-four.

"We can't rely on talent to win games -- we're not that good if we don't play with the leadership, emotion, hard work and dedication that I mentioned before," Emery said.

"Our players had better realize that or our season will be over soon. We didn't care as much as Potsdam did tonight."