BUFFALO, N.Y.—Natasha Steinle (Morrison, CO/CIHA) netted three goals and Justine Silva (Baldwin Park, CA/Arroyo) made 22 stops as third-seeded Buffalo State earned its first-ever playoff victory, defeating visiting No. 6 Potsdam, 4-0, tonight in an ECAC West Quarterfinal contest.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Buffalo State – 4, Potsdam – 0
LOCATION: Ice Arena – Buffalo, N.Y.
RECORDS: Buffalo State (17-7-1), Potsdam (12-13-1)
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a scoreless opening period, Buffalo State erupted for three goals in a span of 2:23 early in the second period.
Steinle started things off with a high wrist shot off a feed from Rachel Lenard (Orchard Park, NY/Nardin).
Just over a minute later, Harris tallied her sixth goal of the season with a quick shot off a pass from Erin Gehen (W. Seneca, NY/W. Seneca West).
Then Steinle completed the barrage with her second of the game with Lenard picking up another assist.
Buffalo State held the 3-0 lead entering the final frame and limited Potsdam to just seven shots while successfully killing off a pair of penalties.
Steinle completed her first career hat trick into the empty net in the final minute for her 14th goal of the season.
Buffalo State finished with a 24-22 edge in shots on goal.
The Bengals were 0 for 1 on the power play, and the Bears were 0 for 4.
FOR THE FOES
Alexa Pfeiffer finished with 20 saves in the loss.
FOR THE FOES
The victory marks the first-ever postseason win for Buffalo State’s women’s hockey program. The Bengals will make their first appearance in the semifinals since 2003, and for the first time since the conference expanded to 10 teams.
UP NEXT
Buffalo State advances to the ECAC West semifinals at second-seeded Elmira on Sunday at 3 p.m. Utica, who defeated Oswego, 5-3, in tonight’s other quarterfinal, will visit top-seeded Plattsburgh in Sunday’s other semifinal.
