By Janet Schultz
Potsdam
(We thank Potsdam for these weekly updates)
Recap Feb 11-17
Oswego State scored three second period goals to defeat the women’s hockey team 4-1 on Friday night. Senior captain Rylie Murray (Berkley, Mich./Honeybaked) scored for the Bears and sophomore goaltender Samantha White (Oceanside, Calif./Anaheim Lady Ducks) made 21 stops. With the Lakers up 3-0, the third period was more evenly played, with the defenses and goalies controlling the play. With nearly four minutes left, the Bears went on their third man advantage of the contest. At 16:28, Murray scored on a blast from the point that sailed over the head of Lakers goalie Rachael Farmer. Junior defenseman Delphine Léonard(Anjou, Quebec/Dawson College Prep) assisted on the goal. With 1:36 left, Potsdam called timeout and pulled White for an extra attacker. However, Oswego sealed the win with an empty-net goal from Leah Czerwinski 18 seconds later.
With the first home playoff game in program history on the line, Bears junior assistant captain Alexa Pfeiffer(Sylvania, Ohio/Little Caesar’s) came through with a 34-save shut out in the women’s hockey team’s 1-0 victory over Oswego State on Saturday. Junior defenseman Léonard scored the game-winner at 6:38 of the third period on the power play. The win was the 20th of Pfeiffer’s career, tying her with Jen Conophy ’13 for the program record. Oswego went on the power play again less than three minutes into the third, but continued to struggle. At 6:07, the Lakers were whistled for cross checking and Potsdam earned its sixth man advantage of the day. Oswego won the ensuing faceoff, but sophomore forward Natalie Wasielewski(Carnegie, Pa./Pittsburgh Penguins Elite) dug the puck out of the corner and sent it to Murray at the right point. Murray then fed Léonard at the left point and she ripped a high shot over Farmer for a 1-0 lead. The Lakers and Bears traded abbreviated power plays with time winding down, but again with no luck. With 1:21 left, Potsdam was called for a final penalty. The Lakers called timeout and pulled Farmer for an extra attacker. With seconds left, Pfeiffer stonewalled Oswego junior forward Eryn Stewart (Stonewall, Manitoba/Central Plains Midget Capitals) point blank to slam the door. Pfeiffer is now 4-1 in her career against the Lakers. Oswego was 0-for-7 on the power play and Potsdam finished 1-for-7. The victory gives the Bears the two seed in the next weekend’s NEWHL Semifinals, where they’ll host three seed SUNY Cortland. Potsdam is 2-1-1 in three meetings with the Red Dragons this season. Game time is TBA. Prior to the contest, seniors Murray and assistant captain Tatum Walber (Orchard Park, N.Y./Buffalo Regals) were honored for their careers on Senior Day.
After playing its third game in the third location in three days, the women’s hockey team bowed 3-2 at Buffalo State in its regular season finale. Junior forward Miranda Kolb (Watertown, N.Y./SUNY Cortland) scored twice for the Bears and junior goalie Kayla McCabe (Watertown, N.Y./Syracuse Nationals) made 32 saves. The Bengals led 3-1 after 40 minutes. Potsdam was unable to capitalize on a five-minute power play to open the third and after the Bears killed off the Bengals’ fifth man advantage, they closed to within one. Freshman forward Stephanie Dunlap (Bath, Mich./Meijer U19 AAA) set up Kolb’s second marker at 16:55. Sophomore Alexis Clark (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) picked up the second assist. Kromer was called for hooking at the same time and the Bears went on their fourth and final man advantage. With 1:48 on the clock, head coach Jay Green called timeout and pulled McCabe for an extra attacker. The Bears had two chances in the final minute, but Bengals goalie Bri Gawronski handled each to hold on to the win.
Recap January 28-Feb 3
The women’s hockey team scored four unanswered goals to defeat SUNY Cortland 4-1 on Friday night. Senior defenseman Rylie Murray (Berkley, Mich./Honeybaked) and junior forward Lucy Condon (Waterloo, Ontario/Waterloo Ravens) each had a goal and an assist. The beginning of the final period was evenly played between both teams. Midway through the third, Murray put the Bears up 3-1 after redirecting a shot by junior defenseman Shelbi Thacker (Chesterfield, Mich./Honeybaked) from the right point. Junior forward Miranda Kolb (Watertown, N.Y./SUNY Cortland) was the other skater to assist Murray’s goal. A couple minutes later, Thacker got the puck outside of her defensive zone for senior Tatum Walber (Orchard Park, N.Y./Buffalo Regals) as she passed it to sophomore forward Alexis Clark (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) who increased the lead off a shot inside the right circle. Cortland outshot Potsdam 5-2 for the remainder of the game, but not a single shot hit the back of the net and the Bears won, 4-1. Thacker and Walber each finished with two assists to end the night. Junior Alexa Pfeiffer (Sylvania, Ohio/Little Caesar’s) ended with 33 saves. The women fell 1-0 at SUNY Cortland on Saturday afternoon. Bears sophomore goaltender Samantha White (Oceanside, Calif./Anaheim Lady Ducks) finished with 34 saves. The Red Dragons finally broke the stalemate at 1:40 of the second period as Emily King netted an even-strength marker. Potsdam had two more man advantages in the second, but still couldn’t solve Cortland goalie Chelsea Allain, who made 13 saves. White stopped 14 shots in the middle stanza.
January 21-27
Sophomore goaltender Samantha White (Oceanside, N.Y./Anaheim Lady Ducks) picked up her third career shutout as the women’s hockey team defeated SUNY Canton 3-0 on Tuesday night. Junior forward Miranda Kolb (Watertown, N.Y./SUNY Cortland), sophomore forward Natalie Wasielewski (Carnegie, Pa./Pittsburgh Penguins Elite) and sophomore defenseman Keira Thacker (Oakville, Ontario/Hamilton Hawks) each scored for the Bears. At 12:06, a Kangaroo was whistled for tripping and Potsdam took advantage. Junior defenseman Delphine Léonard (Anjou, Quebec/Dawson College Prep) kept the puck in the zone at the left point and fed it to senior forward Tatum Walber (Orchard Park, N.Y./Buffalo Regals). Walber put the puck into the slot and Kolb scored as she fell. Just 31 seconds later, Wasielewski knocked home a loose puck at the left side of the net to make it 2-0. Sophomore forward Allie Banas (Buffalo, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) and junior forward Lucy Condon (Waterloo, Ontario/Waterloo Ravens) each assisted on the goal. Potsdam added to its lead with an even-strength marker at 7:03. Thacker scored her first collegiate goal from the right point after a pass from freshman forward Stephanie Dunlap (Bath, Mich./Meijer U19 AAA) deflected to her. White stopped all 17 shots she faced and Canton junior goalie Brooke Susac (Bowmanville, Ontario/Clarington Flames) finished with 20 saves. Potsdam was 1-for-4 on the power play and the Kangaroos were 0-for-4.
January 14-20
Sophomore forward Natalie Wasielewski (Carnegie, Pa./Pittsburgh Penguins Elite) scored twice as the women’s hockey team defeated Buffalo State 3-1 on the road. Sophomore Alex Clark (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) also scored for the Bears and junior assistant captain Alexa Pfeiffer (Sylvania, Ohio/Little Caesar’s) made 30 saves to pick up her 18th career win. It was all Bears in the second period as they fired 18 times on Buffalo State goalie Bri Gawronski and only allowed four shots on Pfeiffer. Wasielewski gave Potsdam the lead back at 6:44 with an assist from junior forward Lucy Condon (Waterloo, Ontario/Waterloo Ravens). Almost 10 minutes later Clark made it 3-1 at 16:12 with assists from freshman forward Stephanie Dunlap (Bath, Mich./Meijer U19 AAA) and sophomore defenseman Emily Burke (San Jose, Calif./San Jose Jr. Sharks). The score was unchanged at the second intermission. The Bengals picked up the pressure in the third period. They created several chances on two power plays, but couldn’t solve Pfeiffer. Buffalo State pulled Gawronski with 38 seconds left, but got no closer. Gawronski finished with 27 stops. Potsdam was 1-for-1 on the power play and the Bengals were 0-for-3.
Plattsburgh
The Plattsburgh State women’s ice hockey team retained its No. 2 ranking in the D3hockey.com Women’s Top-10 Poll and its No. 3 ranking in the USCHO.com Division III Women’s Top-10 Poll. The Cardinals received 137 points and four first-place votes in the D3hockey.com poll and 126 points and four first-place votes in the USCHO.com poll.
The Cardinals wrapped up a perfect Northeast Women’s Hockey League
(NEWHL) season and extended their winning streak to 11 games, sweeping Buffalo
State. They defeated the Bengals, 5-1, on Feb. 15 before completing the sweep
with a 7-1 victory the following day.
Plattsburgh’s women’s hockey players earned several honors during January.
First Kassi Abbott was named NEWHL Goalie of the Week for the sixth time this season and the fifth consecutive week on January 6. This was Abbott’s 10 career NEWHL Goalie of the Week honor.
Sophomore Forward Annie Katonka was named NEWHL Player of the Week for January 13 after posting six goals, including four on the powerplay in a 2-1-0 week. She also took D3hockey.com National Team of the Week honors.
For the same period Moe Tsukimoto was named NEWHL Rookie of the Week. This was her second Rookie of the Week honor. She tallied four points on three goals and one assist and fashioned a +3 rating in the 2-1-0 week for the Cardinals.
On January 11 Taylor Whitney was selected as NEWHL Rookie of the Week for tallying four points in a sweep of Cortland. She had her first collegiate hat trick in an 11-1 victory.
In February honors went to Hannah Kiraly who was named to the D3hockey.com National Team of the Week, her sixth career honor and first this season.
Sophomore forward Kaitlin Drew-Mead (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons/Monsignor Martin Girls Varsity) of the Plattsburgh State women’s ice hockey team has been named the Northeast Women’s Hockey League (NEWHL) Player of the Week for the period ending Feb. 3, 2019, as announced Tuesday by the conference office. This marks Drew-Mead’s first-ever NEWHL Player of the Week honor. Drew-Mead scored a natural hat trick in the first period to lead the Cardinals to a 5-3 victory over Amherst College on Saturday afternoon at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena. It marked the first hat trick of her career. Drew-Mead tallied her first goal at 4:47 of the opening period before scoring again 15 seconds later. She punctuated the natural hat trick with 17:26 elapsed in the first, taking a shot that deflected off the goalie’s glove and into the back of the net.
She was also named to the D3hockey.com National Team of the Week. For the season, Drew-Mead has accrued 15 points on nine goals and six assists.
Clarkson
With two games remaining in the regular season, Clarkson owns a 15-5 conference record, three points behind-league leader Princeton and one point back of second-place Cornell. Ranked fourth in the nation, Clarkson owns a 24-7-1 overall record and will host Princeton and Quinnipiac in their last games of the regular season.
Honors went to Clarkson athletes with Kassidy Sauve being named as ECAC Goaltender of the Month for December. She also received Goaltender of the Week honors February 4.
Loren Gabel was named WHCA Division I Player of the Month for January after registering 17 points in January. She took home the ECAC Player of the Week honors January 28. She had a four-point night and her 100th career goal in a 4-2 victory over Harvard.
St. Lawrence
Justine Reyes became the 29th member of the Paul Flanagan ’80 Century Club after scoring her 100th career point in her 131st career game with an assist on the Saints first goal of a 3-2 loss to Rensselaer.
Senior Goaltender Grace Harrison was named ECAC Goaltender of the Month for December after leading the nation in GAA (0.76) and save percentage (.970) in four starts, going 3-0-1 with a 29 save shutout in a scoreless tie with Harvard. She is now tied for second on the Saint’s all-time shutout list with 16.
Canton
(We thank Canton for the weekly updates)
After a
huge weekend senior Noelle
Niemiec (Staten
Island/New Jersey Rockets) has been named the Colonial Hockey Conference (CHC)
Co-Player of the Week. Niemiec had a monster weekend posting six points on three goals and
three assists to lead the Roos to an unbeaten weekend. She totaled a goal and
two assists in Friday’s 4-1 win v. Becker. She had an even bigger performance
in Saturday’s 3-3 tie scoring twice and assisting the team’s other goal.
Niemiec’s third goal of the weekend tied the game with just 26 seconds
remaining in regulation. The senior wraps up the regular season leading the
team with 15 points and nine assists.
Weekly Recap February 18
Noelle Niemiec had a standout weekend posting three goals and three assists as the Roos went unbeaten with a 4-1 victory and 3-3 OT tie v. Becker on Friday and Saturday. Niemiec tallied a goal and two assists and Jessica Pele had three assists in Friday’s victory. Niemiec posted two goals and an assist and Ashley Gillies recorded a goal and assist in Saturday’s tie. Brooke Susac combined for 37 saves on the weekend. The Roos have earned the four seed in the Colonial Hockey Conference playoffs and will host the University of New England February 23.
Weekly Recap February 11
The Roos dropped a pair of conference contests at Endicott; 5-1 and 3-0. Jessica Pele scored the lone goal on the weekend, her sixth of the season.
Weekly Recap February 4
Kelly Leathem scored her third goal of the season to lead the Roos to a 1-1 overtime tie at Morrisville State (12-6-2) on Saturday. Whitney Bernier scored her second goal of the season in Friday’s 2-1 loss. Noelle Niemiec assisted both goals on the weekend, while Brooke Susac stopped 50 of the 53 shots she faced on the weekend.
Junior Brooke Susac was named CHA Goaltender of the Wek after a pair of strong road performances. She made 50 saves on 53 shots as they went 0-1-1 at Morrisville.
Weekly Recap for January 28:
The women’s hockey team earned a crucial weekend sweep by scores of 2-1 and 4-2 at the University of New England, a team previously atop the Colonial Hockey Conference standings. Ashley Gillies scored and Jessica Pele netted the game-winner with 5:03 remaining in Friday’s win. Brittany Miner, Sarah Kosnaskie, Gillies and Breanna Bedborough all scored in the victory. Brooke Susac combined to make 39 saves on 42 shots on the weekend. The Roos dropped their only other game of the week, 3-0, at SUNY Potsdam.
Ashley Gillies was named CHA Player of the Week and to the D3hockey.com National Team for January 28. She had three points on two goals and an assist as the Roos picked up a sweep of the University of New England. She scored the game winner in the 4-2 win and netted the first goal in the 2-1 victory.
