POTSDAM, N.Y.-The SUNY Potsdam women’s hockey team (4-6-1) got goals from five different Bears in a 5-1 victory over New England College (1-10) on Sunday afternoon at Maxcy Ice Arena. Freshman forward Jaci Morr (Monroe, Mich./Team Detroit) led Potsdam with a goal and an assist and freshman goaltenderBrianna Fiddler (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan/Scanlon Creek) made 28 saves for her first collegiate victory.
The Pilgrims came out with good energy and created several strong scoring opportunities early in the first period. However, Fiddler and the Potsdam defense kept New England off the board. The Bears killed off a Pilgrim power play near the midpoint of the period and then were unable to take advantage of their first power play two minutes later. However, the power play gave Potsdam momentum and it outshot NEC 11-1 over the rest of the period. Potsdam finally broke through at the 14:57 mark. Sophomore forward Jordan Ott (Hilton, N.Y./Rochester Edge) carried the puck the length of the ice before having it poked away. Morr tipped it back to Ott and she ripped it over the right shoulder of Pilgrim freshman goalie Brooklyn Doak (Sherwood Park, Alberta/Sherwood Park) for a 1-0 lead. Four minutes later, freshman forward Anna-Rose Bertin (Marathon, Ontario/Canadian International Hockey Academy) roofed a loose puck to make it a 2-0 contest. Sophomore forwards Roberta Beatty (Prince Albert, Saskatchewan/Ontario Hockey Academy) and Amanda Peterson(West Chazy, N.Y./Chazy Flyers) each assisted on the goal.
The Bears started much quicker in the second period. At 2:42, NEC turned the puck over at the blue line and junior captain Sally Mooney (New Albany, Ohio/Wyoming Seminary) skated in all alone and beat Doak glove-side. Just 1:31 later, senior captain Izzy Fayerman (Calgary, Alberta/The Edge) sent along pass ahead to Morr who beat Doak high to make it 4-0 with her first collegiate goal. After the goal, Pilgrims senior captain Lauren Hopps (Green Bay, Wisc./Madison Capitals) replaced Doak. After a boarding call at 5:23, Potsdam went on its second power play. As the man advantage was winding down, NEC junior forward Morgan Braniff (Tustin, Calif./Anaheim Lady Ducks) picked up a rebound from a Bears’ shot, skated the length of the ice and beat Fiddler on a second attempt for a shorthanded goal. The Pilgrims’ momentum didn’t last. Just 22 seconds later, freshman forward Brenna Wilson(Kanata, Ontario/Ottawa Senators) beat an out of position Hopps with an assist from junior forward Natasha Allen (Aspen, Colo./Ontario Hockey Academy) to cap the scoring at 5-1. Potsdam outshot the Pilgrims 21-8 in the period.
The final 20 minutes were the most evenly played, but the strong performances of Hopps and Fiddler prevented any other changes in the score. The Bears killed off two New England power plays in the third period to seal the victory.
Doak allowed four goals and made 19 saves in the first 24:13. Hopps allowed one goal and had 33 stops in the last 35:47.
Both teams finished 0-for-4 on the power play.
The Bears are now off until Jan. 6, when they host Castleton State for a 3 p.m. contest.
