POTSDAM, N.Y.-Neumann University junior forward Megan Russelo (Leamington, Ontario/Southwest Wildcats) scored her second of the game at 3:18 of overtime to lift the Knights (4-15-2, 3-11-1 ECAC West) to a 4-3 victory over the SUNY Potsdam women’s hockey team (8-11-1, 5-6-1). Junior forward Alison Greene (Massena, N.Y./Norwich University) scored twice in the final 3:17 of regulation to get the Bears five extra minutes. Freshman forward Anna-Rose Bertin (Marathon, Ontario/Canadian International Hockey Academy) also scored for Potsdam.
After the first minutes of the contest flew by with few whistles, Potsdam got on the board at 6:11. Freshman forward Anna-Rose Bertin (Marathon, Ontario/Canadian International Hockey Academy) tipped a shot from the point between the pads of Knights junior goalie Justina Mayr (New Westminster, British Columbia/Pacfic Steelers). Sophomore defenseman Kady Hart (Potsdam, N.Y./North Country Ice Storm) and freshman forward Brenna Wilson (Kanata, Ontario/Ottawa Senators) each assisted on the goal. Nearly 10 minutes later Neumann tied the score. Knights sophomore forward Grace Klienbach (Eustis, Fla./Boston Shamrocks) wristed a shot from the slot past the blocker of Bears junior goalie Alexane Rodrigue (Monkland, Ontario/Bemidji State). The goal tipped the momentum in Neumann’s favor for the rest of the period. The Knights ended the opening 20 minutes with an 11-8 edge in shots, but the score remained tied.
Scoring chances were relatively even during the middle period despite a 16-7 Potsdam advantage in shots. Mayr turned aside all 16 Bears attempts and Rodrigue kept the Knights from adding to their offensive output. Potsdam was unable to score on its lone power play of the middle stanza and Neumann was 0-for-2. However, the Bears were whistled for two penalties in the final 20 seconds of the period.
Just 13 seconds into the third, Knights junior forward Megan Russelo (Leamington, Ontario/Southwest Wildcats) finished a perfect tick-tack-toe pass at the right side of the net for a five-on-three power-play goal and a 2-1 lead. At 4:55, junior forward Casey Kilduff (Old Bridge, N.J./Northwood Prep) scored a four-on-four goal to extend Neumann’s advantage to two goals. At 3:17, junior forward Alison Greene (Massena, N.Y./Norwich University) blasted a loose puck from the slot past Mayr to make it 3-2. With 2:03 remaining, Rodrigue was pulled for an extra attacker. With their net empty, the Bears were able to put intense pressure on the Knights. After Neumann was unable to clear the zone, Greene struck again. With 1:00 remaining, she knocked home a rebound to tie the score.
In overtime, Greene nearly broke loose for a breakaway, but was ridden off the puck. The Knights moved the puck in the other direction. Rodrigue stopped Neumann’s initial shot, but Russelo deposited the rebound in the upper right hand corner of the goal.
Potsdam outshot the Knights 42-37 on the night. The Bears were 0-for-2 on the man advantage and Neumann was 1-for-3.
Rodrigue finished with 33 stops and Mayr made 39 saves.
The teams go at it again tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m.
