POTSDAM, N.Y.—On the night that she was sworn into the Reserve Officers
Training Corps, Bears freshman forward Sally Mooney (New Albany,
Ohio/Wyoming Seminary) scored the game-winning goal in the SUNY Potsdam
women’s hockey team’s (7-9-2, 3-6-1 ECAC West) 3-2 win over Neumann
University (5-13-1, 3-8). The Bears also got goals from junior forward
Alexandra Holowka (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Balmoral Hall) and freshman forward
Natasha Allen (Aspen, Colo./Ontario Hockey Academy).
Potsdam struck just 1:50 into the contest as Holowka came out of the right
corner with the puck and wristed it over the glove of Knights senior
goalie Shannon Donnelly (Orleans, Ontario/Nepean Jr. Wildcats). Junior
assistant captain Jenn Crawford (Burlington, Ontario/Stoney Creek Sabres)
assisted on the play. At the 3:16 mark, Neumann sophomore forward Amanda
Simpson was awarded a penalty shot after a Bear was called for covering
the puck in the crease. Simpson made a move to her left and fired right,
but Potsdam senior goalie Jen Conophy (Glenmont, N.Y./Albany Ice Cats)
came up with a pad save. At the 17:20 mark, Allen buried a rebound for a
2-0 Potsdam advantage. Junior forward Jessica Silveira (Brampton,
Ontario/Brampton Thunder) and freshman forward Sarah Nelson (Highlands
Ranch, Colo./Colorado Selects) notched the assists. Potsdam carried the
lead into the first break.
At the 4:43 mark of the second period, Mooney scored off her own rebound
for a breakaway tally. Junior forward Amanda Lucky (Kanata,
Ontario/Clarkson University) assisted on the goal. Just over two minutes
later, Knights senior forward Lynsey Nakamura (Pickering,
Ontario/Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins) scored a power-play marker on a shot from
the right faceoff circle. Freshman defenseman Keira St-Laurent
(Stittsville, Ontario/Nepean Jr. Wildcats) recorded the assist. Around the
15:00 mark, Knights freshman forward Ashley Langdon (Waterdown,
Ontario/Hamilton Hawks IA) picked up the puck on the Neumann blue line
after a Potsdam turnover, raced the length of the ice and sent a backhand
shot off the crossbar. Bears Head Coach Jay Green called a timeout after
the play to settle his team. The Knights outshot Potsdam 13-9 in the
second period, but trailed 3-1 heading into the third period.
Strong goaltending kept the score the same for much of the final 20
minutes. At about the 13:30 mark, Neumann junior forward Edie Brenning
(Greely, Ontario/Nepean Jr. Wildcats) was stuffed on a breakaway by
Conophy. The Knights had several more strong chances, including some odd
man rushes of the next few minutes, but Conophy continued to frustrate
them. Finally with 2:15 on the clock, Donnelly was pulled for extra
attacker Shanelle Doucette (Bowmanville, Ontario/Oakville Jr. Hornets).
Doucette picked up the puck as she stepped on the ice, skated across the
Potsdam blue line and ripped a shot from the point that Conophy never saw.
Brenning recorded the assist. With their lead cut to 3-2, the Bears never
allowed Neumann enough time to pull Donnelly again.
Both Conophy and Donnelly finished with 32 saves. The Knights were 1-3 on
the power play and Potsdam finished 0-2.
