Potsdam, NY (1/24/15)- The Utica College women’s hockey team lost its first ECAC West Conference game in over two months as it fell to host SUNY Potsdam, 3-1, in league play Saturday afternoon at Potsdam’s Maxcy Ice Arena.
The Pioneers drop to 6-6-3 on the year and 4-3-2 in the ECAC West. UC returns to conference play next weekend as it travels to Neumann University for a weekend series. The Pioneers take on the Knights Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.
The Bears jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first 15:42 of the first period off goals from Izzy Fayerman and Amanda Peterson. Utica was able to cut the lead in half with just under two minutes remaining as senior Kelsey Dowdall (Smiths Falls, ONT/Nepean) scored her first goal of the year, assisted by Victoria Pelton (Sterling Heights, MI/Belle Tire) and Samantha Pucci (Pearl River, NY/Connecticut Polar Bears).
That score would hold until 1:29 left in the game as Fayerman netted an empty net gal to seal the victory.
Utica out shot Potsdam 40-32 on the day, however Potsdam goalie Alexane Rodrigue was up to the task, turning aside 39 shots. Senior Marissa McNamara (Camillus, NY/Lysander Lightning) made 29 saves in net for the Pioneers. Utica was held scoreless on three power-play opportunities, while the Bears were 0-for-1 with the man advantage.
