WORCESTER, MASS.-The SUNY Potsdam women’s hockey team (5-7-2) rallied from a 2-0 third period deficit for a 3-2 victory over Becker College (1-10) on Sunday afternoon. Junior forward Jordan Ott (Hilton, N.Y./Rochester Edge) scored two goals in less than two minutes to erase the hole and senior captain Sally Mooney (Columbus, Ohio/Wyoming Seminary) buried the game-winner with 6:50 to play.
Potsdam controlled the first period, outshooting the Hawks 13-6, but were unable to solve Becker goalie Madison Rigby. Senior assistant captain Abby Tardelli (Potsdam, N.Y./North Country Ice Storm) also stopped every attempt that came her way.
Becker struck just 46 seconds into the second period as Gina Beth Manganiello found the back of the net. At the 7:37 minute mark, the Bears were called for simultaneous too-many-men and interference penalties. Potsdam killed off the ensuing 5-on-3 power-play, but the Hawks gained momentum. At 15:23, Claudia Gee doubled the lead and Becker took a 2-0 advantage into the second intermission.
Bears head coach Jay Green wasn’t pleased with the first 40 minutes of hockey played by his team and gave a fiery speech during the break. Potsdam responded with emotion.
“We had a very slow and disappointing start to the game,” said Green. “But we came to play in the third period and played to the level we’re capable from off. Jordan, Brenna (Wilson) and Sally especially, played with a lot of determination and intensity. They generated a lot of opportunities.
The Bears fired 17 shots on Rigby in the third period and made it difficult for the Hawks to even clear their zone. Finally, 4:11 into the final 20 minutes, Ott beat Rigby top shelf. Freshman forward Jenna Patterson (Boissevain, Manitoba/Westman Wildcats) and junior defenseman Kady Hart (Potsdam, N.Y./North Country Ice Storm) assisted on the play. At 6:25, Ott tied the game with another shot into the top of the net, this time with helpers from junior assistant captain Kaylen Van Wagner (Red Hook, N.Y./Hotchkiss Prep) and senior forward Alison Greene (Massena, N.Y./Norwich University). Feeling the pressure, Becker took overlapping penalties with about nine minutes to play. At 13:10, Mooney scored the decisive goal on the power play with assists from freshman defenseman Rylie Murray (Berkley, Mich./Honeybaked) and Ott. Rigby was pulled with 28 seconds left, but the Hawks didn’t threaten again.
Rigby finished with 39 saves in the losing cause, while Tardelli stopped 19 shots for the win. The Bears were 1-for-3 on the power play and Becker was 0-for-2.
Potsdam is now off until Jan. 12, when the Bears head to Clinton, N.Y. for a 3 p.m. battle with Hamilton College.
