NEWPORT, R.I.—The SUNY Potsdam women’s hockey team (0-1) rallied from a
2-0 third period deficit, but fell 3-2 in overtime in its season opener at
Salve Regina University (2-0). Freshmen forwards Sarah Nelson (Highlands
Ranch, Colo./Ottawa Senators) and Rachel Grefke (Livonia, Mich./Victory
Honda) each scored their first collegiate goal for Potsdam and junior
goalie Dawna Salvarinas (Mississauga, Ontario/Brampton Thunder) finished
with 38 saves.
The Seahawks dominated the first period and jumped out to a 2-0 lead.
Danielle Phalon opened the scoring on a shot from the slot at 9:32.
Cheyenne Boyd recorded the assist. Five minutes later Rachel Porter made
it a two-goal game on a one-timer with assists from Sarah Markey and
Monika Borkowski. Salve Regina outshot the Bears 13-3 in the opening
stanza.
Potsdam outplayed the Seahawks in the second period and killed two
penalties. The Bears fired nine shots on Seahawk goalie Ali Muehlbronner,
but still trailed 2-0 after 40 minutes.
Grefke finally got the Bears on the board at 6:20 of the third period,
beating Muelbronner with a high wrist shot. Sophomore forward Emilee
Hazelden (Bloomingdale, N.Y./Northwood School) and freshman forward Sally
Mooney (New Albany, Ohio/Wyoming Seminary) assisted on the goal. Four
minutes later Nelson struck to tie the game with assists from freshmen
defensemen Kristen Domanski (Brooklin, Ontario/Barrie Sharks) and Katie
Marsman (Wantagh, N.Y./Wyoming Seminary). Potsdam was unable to net the
decisive marker in regulation.
In overtime, the Bears were called for a checking penalty and the Seahawks
fired eight shots on Salvarinas before surrendering the game-winner. Sarah
McClusker scored with a high shot just 1:43 into the extra period with an
assist from Porter.
Muehlbronner stopped 21 shots to earn the victory. The Seahawks outshot
Potsdam 41-23. The Bears were 0-1 on the man-advantage and Salve Regina
was 1-9.
“We came out sluggish, but as the game wore on we gained momentum,” said
Potsdam Head Coach Jay Green. “We had a great third period to tie it up.
It wasn’t a great outing overall, but the last five minutes was the team
of old that we saw last year. We have a lot of small details to improve
upon. If we had played better start to finish we could have had a better
outcome.”
The Bears look to bounce back tomorrow afternoon at Division I Holy Cross.
The puck drops at 1 p.m.
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