SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT.—Four different players scored for the SUNY Potsdam
women’s hockey team (5-8-1) as the Bears downed host Saint Michael’s
(1-10-1) 4-1 to capture the DoubleTree Ice Hockey Classic Title. Potsdam
has now won three straight contests and is 4-1-1 in its last six. Senior
captain Katie Komsa (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont./Sault Ste. Marie AA Midget)
was selected as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and junior captain
Brittany Lucky (Kanata, Ontario/Ottawa Senators) was named to the
all-tournament team.
Komsa opened the scoring at 6:59 of the first period with an assist from
junior assistant captain Jenn Crawford (Burlington, Ontario/Stony Creek
Sabres). Tight defense allowed just six shots per team in the opening 20
minutes, but Bears senior goaltender Jen Conophy (Glenmont, N.Y./Albany
Ice Cats) kept the Purple Knights at bay and Potsdam took the one-goal
lead into the break.
Just 56 seconds into the second period, sophomore forward Alexandra
Holowka (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Balmoral Hall) gave Potsdam a 2-0 advantage.
Sophomore forward Emily Hazelden (Bloomingdale, N.Y./Northwood School)
assisted on the goal. Potsdam dominated the second period, outshooting the
Purple Knights 13-5, but Saint Mike’s goalie Meaghan Leong kept her team
in the game. Conophy was perfect through 40 minutes.
At the 10:30 mark of the third period, Macey Thomas finally solved Conophy
to get the Purple Knights to within 2-1. However, the Bears answered 1:33
later as freshman defenseman Kristen Domanski (Brooklin, Ontario/Barrie
Sharks) buried her second of the weekend. Freshman forward Sarah Nelson
(Highlands Ranch, Colo./Colorado Selects) and junior forward Jessica
Silveira (Brampton, Ontario/Brampton Thunder) recorded the assists. Just
46 seconds after that, Lucky gave Potsdam all the insurance it would need
and the Bears rolled to the 4-1 win.
Conophy finished with 19 saves to earn her first victory of the season,
while Leong stopped 29 shots. Potsdam outshot the Purple Knights 33-20.
Saint Mike’s was 0-4 on the power play and the Bears went without an
opportunity on the man advantage.
“Our forecheck and execution were much better today,” said Bears Head
Coach Jay Green. “It was just a much better effort by everyone and I’m
very pleased. We’re leaving here with two big wins and are much happier
with our play.”
The Bears are back in action on Tuesday as they host the Castleton State
Spartans at 7 p.m. at Cheel Arena.
