POTSDAM, N.Y.-The SUNY Potsdam women’s hockey team (1-1, 1-1 ECAC West) defeated the Buffalo State (1-2-1, 1-1) 2-1 on Saturday afternoon for its first win of the season. Sophomore forward Jordan Ott (Hilton, N.Y./Rochester Edge) scored her first goal of the year and senior captain Izzy Fayerman (Calgary, Alberta/The Edge) netted the game-winner in the third period. Junior goalie Alexane Rodrigue (Monkland, Ontario/Bemidji State) made 37 saves to seal the win for the Bears.
The teams combined for 25 shots in the first period, but Rodrigue and Bengals freshman goalie Justine Silva (Baldwin Park, Calif./Anaheim Lady Ducks) kept the contest scoreless. The Bears killed of one Buffalo State power play in the opening 20 minutes and the game entered the first intermission with no change in score.
The second period was the most evenly played of the game and Potsdam jumped on the board first. At the 15:06 mark, freshman forward Jaci Morr (Monroe, Mich./Team Detroit) found Ott for a 1-0 lead. Rodrigue stopped all seven shots she faced in the period and the Bears held the advantage after 40 minutes.
The Bengals started the third period on the power play. Potsdam killed the penalty, but Buffalo State tied the game just seconds later. Freshman forward Christine Harris (Mountain Top, Pa./New Jersey) scored at the 2:08 mark on an assist from freshman forward Erin Gehen (West Seneca, N.Y./Cazenovia Chiefs). After the goal, the Bears killed off another penalty and went back to work. At 9:02, Fayerman found the back of the net on assists from Ott and sophomore forward Amanda Peterson (West Chazy, N.Y./Chazy Flyers). The Bengals answered with good pressure and Potsdam Head Coach Jay Green called a timeout with 6:42remaining. Two minutes later, Buffalo State was on the power play again, but couldn’t close the gap. Silva was pulled with 1:38remaining, but Potsdam’s defense clamped down and didn’t allow another shot.
Silva finished with 22 saves and Buffalo State was 0-for-4 on the power play.
The Bears are back in action next weekend when they host first-year program Williams Smith for two ECAC West games. Potsdam faces the Herons at 3 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
