The SUNY Potsdam women’s hockey team (7-6-2, 3-3-2 ECAC West) never trailed as they edged Neumann University (3-10, 1-6) 4-3 for an important conference win on the road. Four different Bears scored as Potsdam ended a two-game skid.
Senior assistant captain Jenn Crawford (Burlington, Ontario/Stony Creek Sabres) put the Bears on top just 4:47 into the contest. Senior captain Izzy Fayerman (Calgary, Alberta/The Edge) and freshman forward Jordan Ott (Hilton, N.Y./Rochester Edge recorded the assists. Ott netted her team leading 10th goal of the season on the power play 1:49 later with helpers from seniorsAmanda Lucky (Kanata, Ontario/Clarkson University) and Brittany Lucky (Kanata, Ontario/Ottawa Senators) for a 2-0 lead. The Knights answered 1:22 later on an even strength tally from Shanelle Doucette. At the 15:10 mark, Megan Russelo tied the game. Potsdam outshot Neumann 10-9 in the opening period and entered the intermission tied with the Knights.
Fayerman gave the Bears the lead back at 2:25 of the middle stanza with assists from Crawford and freshman defensemanAmanda Peterson (West Chazy, N.Y./Chazy Flyers). The goal chased Knights goalie Julia Fair from the net. Fair was replaced by Justina Mayr for the rest of the contest. Potsdam was put on the defensive in the middle of the period, but managed to kill off two Knight power plays. With a minute remaining in the period, senior forward Jessica Silveira (Brampton, Ontario/Brampton Thunder) gave the Bears their two-goal lead back with the eventual game-winner. Freshman defenseman Kaylen Van Wagner (Red Hook, N.Y./Hotchkiss Prep) and Amanda Luckyrecorded the assists.
The teams piled up the penalty minutes to start the third period. The Bears were whistled for three minors and the Knights with four, but the score remained the same. The offenses were stifled by the penalty killing units, combining for just 11 total shots in the period. With 1:46 left, Lindsey Spatola scored to get Neumann to within 4-3. Mayr was pulled for the final 30 seconds, but the Knights couldn’t get the equalizer.
Sophomore goalie Alexane Rodrigue (Monkland, Ontario/Bemidji State) made 21 saves for Potsdam and improved to 6-4-2 on the season. Fair stopped 11 of 14 shots in the first 22:25 and Mayr was tagged with the loss despite allowing just one goal on 17 shots. The Bears outshot the Knights 31-24 on the night. Potsdam was 1-5 on the power play and Neumann was 0-5.
