POTSDAM, N.Y.- A late third period goal from junior forward Karley Cree (Hogansburg, N.Y./SUNY Canton) lifted the SUNY Potsdam women’s ice hockey team (6-8-1, 4-6-1 ECAC West) to a 2-1 win over SUNY Cortland (2-10-1, 1-6-1) on Saturday afternoon at Maxcy Ice Arena. Freshman forward Jaci Morr (Monroe, Mich./Team Detroit) also scored for the Bears. Senior forward Gwen Paul (Incline Village, NV/San Jose Sharks) scored the only goal for the Red Dragons.
At 3:57 of the opening period, Cortland found the back of the net to seize the 1-0 lead. Paul found her way around a couple Potsdam defenders to score an unassisted, power play goal. The Red Dragons held the 1-0 advantage at the break.
Potsdam managed to tie the game less than four minutes into the second stanza when freshman forward Brenna Wilson (Kanata, Ontario/Ottawa Senators) made a perfect pass to Morr in front of Cortland’s goal. Morr ripped it past sophomore goalie Kelly Farinella (Marlton, NJ/New Jersey Rockets) to even the score. Potsdam held a 15-11 advantage in shots during the period and the score remained 1-1 at intermission.
Impressive defense by both teams kept shots to a minimum in the third period. With the clock running down, Cree lit the lamp for the Bears off a pass from sophomore defenseman Kaylen Van Wagner (Red Hook, N.Y./Hotchkiss Prep) and sophomore forward Amanda Peterson (West Chazy, N.Y./Chazy Flyers). The goal marked Cree’s first goal in a Bears uniform and the go-ahead score to seal the victory.
Junior goalie Alexane Rodrigue (Monkland, Ontario/Bemidji State) had 28 saves between the posts for the Bears and Farinella finished with 31.
The Bears look to continue their momentum when they travel to Utica College on Friday, to take on the Pioneers at 7 p.m.
