UTICA, N.Y.-Utica College (3-2, 3-2 ECAC West) scored four third period goals to down the SUNY Potsdam women’s hockey (5-2, 3-2) team 6-1 on Saturday afternoon. Junior assistant captain Anna-Rose Bertin (Marathon, Ontario/Canadian International Hockey Academy) scored for the Bears.
Defense largely controlled the play early, surrendering just six shots apiece in the first 20 minutes. Potsdam killed off the Pioneers lone power play just 2:49 into the period. The game remained scoreless until the 18:07 mark. Junior forward Brenna Wilson (Kanata, Ontario/Ottawa Senators) carried the puck to the left side of the slot and fed Bertin at the right. The forward then beat Pioneers goalie Keira Goin. The Bears took the 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
Utica tied the game nearly four minutes into the second period on the power play. At 3:56, after a failed Potsdam clearing attempt, Jane Pagano fired from a shot from the left point. Meghan Power deflected it past a screened Bears freshman goalie Alexa Pfeiffer (Sylvania, Ohio/Little Caesar’s). Just 37 seconds later, Emily Coope scored to put Utica up 2-1. Potsdam nearly tied it at the 11:00 mark as Wilson rang the post. The Pioneers had two strong chances in the final three minutes, but were shut down by Pfeiffer. At 2:51, Jennifer Liu broke free for a breakaway, but the Bears goaltender stood her ground. With time about to expire, Lauren Patterson one-timed a pass in the slot, but was robbed by Pfeiffer. The shots were even at 11-11 in the middle stanza, but Potsdam trailed 2-1.
Utica tacked on four more in a 4:46 span midway through the third period. Pagano made it 3-1 at 7:36. At 9:00, Olivia Hirschy added a fourth marker to extend the lead to three. Following goal, the Pioneers went on the man advantage and added power-play goals from Kayla Dion at 11:18 and Taylor Osowski at 12:02.
Pfieffer finished with 20 saves, while Goin stopped 23 shots. Utica finished with a 26-24 advantage in shots. The Pioneers were 3-for-5 on the power play and the Bears were 0-for-4.
The two teams go at it again tomorrow afternoon in Maxcy Ice Arena at 4 p.m.
