The Continentals came out strong and were aided by a Potsdam penalty just 2:10 into the period. Hamilton had two strong scoring opportunities, but Rodrigue handled them both and the Bears were able to clear the puck. The momentum shifted midway through the period as Potsdam answered with strong changes of its own. However, Continental junior goalie Sarah Schuchardt (Verona, Wis./Phillips Academy) kept the game scoreless. Hamilton’s best chance came late in the period as the Continentals hit the right post. Hamilton outshot the Bears 15-11 in the opening stanza.
The Continentals started in the same fashion in the second period and were finally rewarded. At the 3:15 mark, Fitzgerald tipped a shot from the right point that beat a screened Rodrigue for a 1-0 lead. Senior defensemen Hannah Jaiven (Holland, Mich./Belle Tire) and Julie Williams (Westwood, Mass./Rivers School) assisted on the goal. The Bears answered just 1:27 later as freshman forward Jordan Ott (Hilton, N.Y./Rochester Edge) looped a bouncing pass over the stick of a Hamilton defender to Silveira. Silveira made a great effort to control the puck and then wristed it over the right shoulder of Schuchardt to tie the game. The teams traded flurries and strong goaltending over the rest of the period. With under a minute to go, Parkman poked the puck off the stick of a Bear defenseman and beat Rodrigue on a breakaway. Hamilton carried the 2-1 lead into the second intermission.
The teams continued to battle in a one-goal contest in the third period. Both teams created several strong scoring chances and killed off a power play. The Bears pulled Rodrigue for an extra attacker with 1:38 and nearly jammed home the game-winner twice as time wound down. However, Schuchardt and the Continentals’ defense kept the puck out of the net for the 2-1 win.
Schuchardt finished with 31 saves in the contest. Hamilton outshot Potsdam 36-32 and both teams were 0-3 on the man advantage.
The Bears resume ECAC West play when they head to Neumann University for pair of games this weekend. Potsdam faces the Knights at 7 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.
