POTSDAM, N.Y.-Neumann University (6-14-2, 4-11-1 ECAC West) jumped out to a 4-0 and barely held on for a 4-3 victory over the SUNY Potsdam women’s hockey team (8-12-1, 5-9-1) for the second day in a row. Junior defenseman Katie Marsman (Wantagh, N.Y./Wyoming Seminary) led the Bears with three assists. Junior forward Megan Russelo (Leamington, Ontario/Southwest Wildcats) scored twice for the Knights in her second straight contest.
Potsdam created offensive pressure early, but Knights sophomore goalie Chelsea Polidoro (Havertown, Pa./Quakers) withstood several strong chances. Neumann drew first blood at the 10:01 mark. Russelo deflected a shot from the point into the upper left corner of the Bears’ net for her third goal of the weekend. Potsdam resumed its pressure after the goal, but was unable to solve Polidoro. The Knights goalie finished with 12 saves in the first period.
Less than four minutes into the second period Neumann struck again. At 3:39, sophomore forward Kelly Fox (Belle Mead, N.J./Princeton Tiger Lillies) beat a screened Bears junior goalie Alexane Rodrigue (Monkland, Ontario/Bemidji State) on a shot from the left point to make it 2-0. Nearly four minutes later, junior forward Casey Kilduff (Old Bridge, N.J./Northwood Prep) scored Neumann’s third of the game. Junior goalie Abby Tardelli (Potsdam, N.Y/North Country Ice Storm) replaced Rodrigue in goal. Two minutes later, a Bears turnover in the neutral zone resulted in a Russelo shorthanded tally on a breakaway. The goal proved to be the game-winner. At 14:50, junior forward Karley Cree (Hogansburg, N.Y./SUNY Canton) shoveled home a loose puck at the right side of the net to get Potsdam on the board. Sophomore forward Amanda Peterson (West Chazy, N.Y./Chazy Flyers) and Marsman assisted on the goal. The Bears trailed 4-1 after 40 minutes.
After Potsdam killed off another penalty, the Bears closed the gap to 4-2. Marsman fired a shot from the right point and freshman forward Brenna Wilson (Kanata, Ontario/Ottawa Senators) redirected it past Polidoro at 4:35. Junior forward Natasha Allen (Aspen, Colo./Ontario Hockey Academy) recorded the second assist on the play. The teams traded chances over the middle of the period with no change. With 3:12 left, the Bears pulled Tardelli for the first of several times. Neumann took a penalty with 38 seconds left and Potsdam pounced. Just 17 seconds later, Peterson knocked home a rebound off a shot from sophomore forward Jordan Ott (Hilton, N.Y./Rochester Edge) to cut the lead to 4-3. Marsman also assisted on the goal. Tardelli never returned to the net, but the Bears were unable to find the equalizer.
Rodrigue finished with 19 saves on 22 shots in the first 27:28, but Tardelli was tagged with the loss despite allowing just one goal on 18 shots over the rest of the contest. Polidoro earned the victory with 31 saves.
The Knights outshot Potsdam 40-34 on the afternoon and both teams were 1-for-4 on the power play.
Prior to the contest, senior captain Izzy Fayerman (Calgary, Alberta/The Edge) was honored on Senior Day. In 96 games in a Bears’ jersey, the captain has 28 goals and 33 assists, placing her fourth on the program’s all-time scoring list with 61 points.
Next weekend, Potsdam heads to Pittsburgh for two games with Chatham as the Bears battle for a playoff spot.
