ASTON, PA.-Freshman forward Jenna Patterson (Boissevain, Manitoba/Westman Wildcats) and sophomore forward Anna-Rose Bertin (Marathon, Ontario/CIH Academy) each scored two goals as the SUNY Potsdam women’s hockey team (8-12-2, 3-11-1 ECAC West) defeated Neumann University (4-16-1, 2-13-1) 5-3. Senior captain Katie Marsman (Wantagh, N.Y./Wyoming Seminary) recorded a goal and an assist and senior assistant captain Abby Tardelli (Potsdam, N.Y./North Country Ice Storm) made 27 saves to seal the victory.
Shots were hard to come by in the opening period as each team was able to manage just five. However, the Knights got on the board first. At 9:44, Megan Russelo gave Neumann its first lead of the weekend. Patterson answered at 16:35 with an assist from sophomore forward Brenna Wilson (Kanata, Ontario/Ottawa Senators). The teams traded unsuccessful power plays in the final minutes of the period and the score remained 1-1.
At the 6:25 mark of the second period, Lauren Cusack made it 2-1. The Knights got into penalty trouble after the goal. They killed off three consecutive Potsdam power plays, but weren’t as lucky on the fourth. Bertin scored her first of the contest during a five-on-three man advantage with just 32 seconds left in the period. Marsman and sophomore forward Jordan Ott (Hilton, N.Y./Rochester Edge) each assisted on the play and the score was even at 2-2 after 40 minutes.
The play was even in the third period as well, but the Bears executed on their opportunities. Marsman gave Potsdam its first lead of the contest with a power-play goal just 39 seconds into the final 20 minutes. Junior forward Amanda Peterson (West Chazy, N.Y./Chazy Flyers) recorded the assist. Patterson buried the eventual game-winner at 12:14 with an assist from senior captain Sally Mooney (Columbus, Ohio/Wyoming Seminary). Bek Lucas countered just over four minutes later to make it a 4-3 contest. With 52 seconds left, Neumann pulled Julia Fair for an extra attacker, but Bertin put the game away with with an empty-netter 15 seconds later.
Fair finished with 25 saves on the afternoon.
The shots were even at 30 apiece, but Potsdam went 2-for-6 on the power play and the Knights were 0-for-7.
The Bears will now finish out the regular season with three games at home beginning with an 8 p.m. battle against Chatham on Friday night.
