POTSDAM, N.Y.-Senior captain Amanda Peterson (Chazy, N.Y./Chazy Flyers) scored with 23 seconds left in overtime to give the SUNY Potsdam women’s hockey team (6-5) a 2-1 victory over New England College (2-7) on Friday afternoon. Junior forward Jaci Morr (Monroe, Mich./Team Detroit) also scored for the Bears and Potsdam freshman goaltender Alexa Pfeiffer (Sylvania, Ohio/Little Caesar’s) made 28 saves for her third career victory.
Thanks in part to two power plays, Potsdam outshot the Pilgrims 12-6 in the opening period. However, New England sophomore goalie Ashley Castriotta (Framingham, Mass./Winchendon) withstood the pressure to keep the Bears off the board early. Potsdam freshman goaltender Alexa Pfeiffer (Sylvania, Ohio/Little Caesar’s) was perfect as well as the contest entered the first intermission scoreless.
The Bears opened the second period with 1:39 remaining on their second man advantage. NEC was able to kill off the penalty and generate some pressure of its own. This time it was Pfeiffer holding her own and allowing her defense to clear the zone and create some offensive chances. At 11:05, Potsdam sophomore forward Tatum Walber (Orchard Park, N.Y./Buffalo Regal) was hauled down on a breakaway and the Bears went back on the power play. During the power play, Castriotta robbed Potsdam junior forward Brenna Wilson (Kanata, Ontario/Ottawa Senators) and the game remained even. The Bears were called for three penalties in the final three minutes of the period. They killed off the first and went into the intermission down two players with the game still scoreless. Castriotta stopped all 12 shots that came her way and Pfeiffer turned aside nine chances.
The Pilgrims took advantage of the 5-on-3 power play just 55 seconds into the third period. NEC senior captain Mackenzie Meegan (Phoenix, Ariz./Dallas Stars Elite) tipped a shot from the point past Pfeiffer to make it 1-0. Potsdam finally got on the board at 8:27. Morr knocked the rebound off a shot from left point past Castriotta make it 1-1. Walber and freshman defenseman Delphine Léonard (Montreal, Quebec/Dawson College Prep) each assisted on the play. The Bears outshot NEC 11-7 in the third period, but regulation ended in a 1-1 tie.
The Pilgrims were awarded a power play midway through the overtime period and outshot the Bears 4-3. At the 4:37 mark, Peterson buried her own rebound to give Potsdam a game one win.
Castriotta finished with 33 saves. The Bears outshot the Pilgrims 35-29 and were 0-for-5 on the power play. NEC was 1-for-5 on the man advantage.
The teams play again tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m.
