POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam women’s hockey team (10-13-2, 6-9-1 ECAC
West) needed a victory over Buffalo State (6-18-1, 3-13) to return to the
ECAC West Tournament and senior goaltender Jen Conophy (Glenmont,
N.Y./Albany Ice Cats) and freshman forward Sarah Nelson (Highlands Ranch,
Colo./Colorado Selects) came through with clutch performances. Conophy
shone the brightest on Senior Day, stopping all 22 shots she faced for her
second career shutout. Nelson scored the only goal the Bears needed for
the win.
Potsdam looked strong early, testing Bengals junior goalie Jordan Lee
(Colorado Springs, Colo./University of Southern Maine). Nelson struck at
the 5:14 mark, slamming home her own rebound for the decisive tally.
Senior captain Katie Komsa (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario/Sault Ste. Marie AA
Midget) and freshman forward Rachel Grefke (Livonia, Mich./Victory Honda)
recorded the assists. The teams spent much of the rest of the period on
the power play or killing them. The Bears were 0-3 on the man advantage
and needed a few big saves from Conophy to keep the Bengals from a
shorthanded goal. Buffalo State was 0-2 on the power play. The shots were
13-12 in favor of the hosts after 20 minutes.
Potsdam had to kill of three power plays in the second period, including a
59-second five-on-three situation at the 13:09 mark. However, Buffalo
State couldn’t crack the Bears’ defense or Conophy. The Bengals outshot
Potsdam 7-3 in the second period.
There were six power plays evenly divided in the third period, but the
drama built toward the last few minutes. Both teams had strong scoring
opportunities, but couldn’t solve Conophy or Lee. With 2:56 remaining,
Bears junior forward Jessica Silveira (Brampton, Ontario/Brampton Thunder)
swooped in front of the net and backhanded a shot that looked like a sure
goal. Lee slid across the crease and pinned the puck between her glove and
left pad to rob Silveira of an insurance tally. Potsdam was whistled for
an interference penalty with 1:20 left and Buffalo State pulled Lee for an
extra attacker. With less than minute left, Bengals senior forward Tara
Boliard (Canton, Mich./Little Caesars) sent a pass from the right corner
to the point. No one was there and puck slid the length of the ice and
clanged off the Bengals’ goalpost, nearly doubling the Bears’ lead.
Conophy made several more saves as Buffalo State swarmed the net and
Potsdam was able to run out the clock.
Lee finished with 25 saves for the Bengals. Buffalo State was 0-8 on the
power play and the Bears went 0-6.
The victory extends the careers of Potsdam seniors Conophy, Komsa,
Brittany Westlake (Georgetown, Ontario/Brampton Thunder) and Nadine
Cunningham (Bow, N.H./St. Mark’s Prep), who were honored in a pregame
ceremony. The four have combined to play in 322 games for the Bears.
With the victory, Potsdam leapfrogs both Cortland and Neumann into the
fifth playoff spot. The Bears will travel to fourth-seeded Utica College
next Saturday, Feb. 23, for the first round of the ECAC West Playoffs.
Potsdam tied Utica 1-1 on the road on Jan. 12, before falling 2-0 at Cheel
on Jan. 13. The Bears have now reached the playoffs in three of their
first five varsity seasons.
