Potsdam – Facing a high volume of shots, sophomore goal tender Alexane
Rodrigue (Monkland, Ontario / Bemidji State) piled up 37 saves and her
Bears’ teammates put forth a much more competitive effort from just a day
earlier, but No. 4 Elmira sped to a 3-0 ECAC West win over SUNY Potsdam at
Maxcy Hall Arena on Saturday afternoon.
Showing plenty of grit and determination, Potsdam battled to a scoreless
stalemate after the first period with the defending Division III women’s
hockey champions.
Despite the Bears being outshot 15-9 in the opening period, Rodrigue was
up to the challenge as she came up with several saves that showcased her
athleticism by stopping shots that ranged both high and low.
It was not until the 5:12 mark of the second period when the Soaring
Eagles (4-1-1 overall, 4-0 ECAC West) finally broke through. Bears’
sophomore forward Rachel Grefke (Livonia, Mich. / Victory Honda) was
whistled for cross checking and Elmira took advantage on a power play by
Brooke Wilgosh. The goal was set up Ashley Ryan’s sixth assist of the
season.
Just past the midway point of the second period, Elmira struck again when
junior forward Ashton Hogan scored on helpers from Cassidy Delainey and
McKenna Farole. Delainey added a short-handed insurance goal from Wilgosh
in the third to make it 3-0.
The front line of Potsdam (2-3-1 overall, 1-3-1 ECAC West) continued to
push hard and worked its way to a 12-9 shots on goal advantage in the
final period.
Freshman forward Jordan Ott (Hilton, N.Y. / Rochester Edge) led the Bears
with six shots while senior assistant captain Jenn Crawford (Burlington,
Ontario / Stoney Creek Sabres) and senior Amanda Lucky (Kanata, Ontario /
Clarkson University) each took five shots apiece on goal. Lucky also won
on seven of her eight face offs.
