POTSDAM, N.Y.-Buffalo State (1-1-1, 1-0 ECAC West) scored just 41 seconds into overtime to complete a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over the SUNY Potsdam women’s hockey team (0-1, 0-1)on Friday night. Senior captain Izzy Fayerman (Calgary Alberta/The Edge) and sophomore defenseman Kaylen Van Wagner (Red Hook, N.Y./Hotchkiss Prep) each scored for the Bears and junior goalie Alexane Rodrigue (Monkland, Ontario/Bemidji State) finished with 42 saves.
The Bengals came out with good pressure early in the contest, but Rodrigue was sharp in her first action of the season. Buffalo State was called for a high-sticking penalty at the 10:39 mark and the power-play opportunity got Potsdam’s offense moving. After winning a faceoff in the Bengals’ zone, junior assistant captainKatie Marsman (Wantagh, N.Y./Wyoming Seminary) sent the puck to sophomore forward Jordan Ott (Hilton, N.Y./Rochester Edge). Ott fed Fayerman and she beat Bengals freshman goalie Justine Silva (Baldwin Park, Calif./Anaheim Lady Ducks) on a shot from the left faceoff circle. The Bears carried the play for the rest of the period. With just over a minute remaining, freshman forward Jaci Morr (Monroe, Mich./Team Detroit) rang the right post, but the score remained the same after 20 minutes.
Potsdam got into penalty trouble early in the second period. The Bears killed off three consecutive penalties, but the Bengals picked up momentum. At the 11:49 mark, freshman forward Brooke Krantz (Penticton, British Columbia/Okanagan Hockey Academy) tipped a shot from the point past Rodrigue to tie the score. Junior defenseman Alison Mish (Canastota, N.Y./CNY Bobcasts) and freshman forward Erin Gehen (West Seneca, N.Y./Cazenovia Chiefs) each assisted on the play. Potsdam slowly evened out the play over the rest of the period, but couldn’t regain the lead.
Potsdam was outshot again in the third period, but was able to scratch out another lead. After matching minors reduced the play to four-on-four, Van Wagner struck for her first collegiate goal at the7:40 mark. The lead lasted just 33 seconds as Buffalo State senior forward Kara Goodwin (Avon Lake, Ohio/Lindenwood University) answered with an unassisted tally of her own at 8:13. Both teams had chances as regulation ticked away, but the buzzer sounded with the score still frozen at 2-2.
Less than a minute into the extra session, freshman defenseman Georgia Kleiner (Pelham, N.Y./Canterbury Saints) fired a shot from the right point that Rodrigue never saw. Gehen and Krantz assisted on the game-winner.
Silva made 22 saves to earn the first victory of her career. Potsdam was 1-for-3 on the man advantage and the Bengals finished 0-for-3.
