POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam women’s hockey team (2-0) defeated Saint Michael’s College (0-2) 3-1 on Saturday afternoon in the Bears’ home opener. Senior forward Taylor Marcellus (Waddington, N.Y./Ontario Hockey Academy), sophomore forward Lucy Condon(Kitchener, Ontario/Waterloo Ravens) and senior captain Anna-Rose Bertin (Marathon, Ontario/Canadian International Hockey Academy) each scored for Potsdam, while sophomore goaltender Alexa Pfeiffer(Sylvania, Ohio/Little Caesar’s) made 30 saves.
The Bears outshot the Purple Knights 12-8 in the opening period and the teams combined for five penalties. While none of the power plays were successful, both teams managed an even-strength goal. At 13:59, Marcellus picked off a breakout pass and ripped a shot that slipped between the pads of Saint Mike’s junior goalie Nicole Talcott (Colchester, Vt./Rice Memorial Prep) for a 1-0 lead. Less than four minutes later, Purple Knights senior forward Katherine O’Brien (East Sandwich, Mass./Tilton School) fired a shot from the left faceoff circle. Pfeiffer made the stop, but the puck rolled up a pad and into the net to tie the game.
Saint Mike’s were able to keep Potsdam on its heels for much of the second period, thanks to three power plays. The Purple Knights outshot the Bears 14-4, but fell behind further. While killing a penalty in the middle of the stanza, Condon broke free for a breakaway and just missed a goal on the backhand. Less than minute later, she picked up a puck at the top of the defensive zone and carried it the length of the ice. She then rang the crossbar for her first career goal and a 2-1 lead. Freshman forward Alexis Clark (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) notched her first collegiate point on the assist.
The Purple Knights fired nine shots on Pfeiffer in the third period and continued to put plenty of bodies in front of the net, but the Bears goalie frustrated them for the rest of the contest. Just 1:53 into the final 20 minutes, Bertin beat Talcott a final time to close the scoring at 3-1. Junior forward Jenna Patterson (Boissevain, Manitoba/Westman) and senior captain Brenna Wilson (Kanata, Ontario/Ottawa Senators) assisted on the goal.
Talcott finished with 21 stops. Saint Mike’s outshot Potsdam 31-24 on the day. The Purple Knights were 0-for-7 on the power play and the Bears went 0-for-4.
Potsdam is now 15-0-2 in the all-time series against Saint Mike’s.
The Bears are back in action when they open NEWHL play for the first time next weekend at Buffalo State. The Bengals host Potsdam at 7 p.m. on Friday and 2 p.m. on Saturday.
