POTSDAM, N.Y.-The SUNY Potsdam women’s hockey team (12-12-1, 8-8-1) returns to the ECAC West Playoffs on Thursday night when the sixth seeded Bears travel three seed Buffalo State for a 7 p.m. showdown. It’s the Bears first playoff appearance since 2014 and their fourth in the last six seasons.
The teams split their November 11-12 series in Maxcy Ice Arena. The Bengals defeated Potsdam 3-1 in the opener. Erin Gehen led the way for Buffalo State with a goal and an assist. Junior assistant captain Anna-Rose Bertin (Marathon, Ontario/Canadian International Hockey Academy) scored for the Bears. The following afternoon, Potsdam shut out the Bengals 3-0. Senior captain Amanda Peterson (West Chazy, N.Y./Chazy Flyers) scored two goals and freshman defenseman Karina Villalobos (Woodhaven, Mich./Little Caesar’s) notched her first collegiate tally.
This season the Bears tied their single-season records for overall (12) and conference victories (8). As has been the case for each of the last four years, Potsdam has been led offensively by senior forward Jordan Ott (Hilton, N.Y./Rochester Edge). In 2016-17, Ott has 14 goals and nine assists for 23 points, raising her career totals and program record to 107 (61-46). Ott, a three-time all-conference selection and the 2014 USCHO.com National Rookie of the Year, is currently sixth in the nation with six power play goals.
Behind Ott, having career years are Bertin and Peterson. Bertin has accounted for 12 goals, including four on the man advantage, and four assist for 16 points. Peterson has seven goals, three of them power-play markers, and six assists for 13 points. Junior forwards Jaci Morr (Monroe, Mich./Team Detroit) and Brenna Wilson (Kanata, Ontario/Ottawa Senators) also reached double digits for the first time in their careers. Morr totaled 12 points on six goals and six assists and Wilson matched her with three goals and nine assists. Freshman defenseman Delphine Léonard (Montreal, Quebec/Dawson College Prep) established herself as a playmaker in her first season. She scored three goals and assisted on eight others for 11 points.
The veteran presence of senior captain Kaylen Van Wagner (Redhook, N.Y./Hotchkiss Prep) and senior assistant captain Kady Hart (Potsdam, N.Y./North Country Ice Storm) have anchored the Bears on the blue line. A strong mix of experience and talented freshmen have combined to allow a program record 2.50 goals-per-game this season.
Freshman Alexa Pfeiffer (Sylvania, Ohio/Little Caesar’s) has assumed the starting job between the pipes this year. The goaltender has compiled an 8-10-1 record, a 2.70 goals-against-average and a .912 save percentage.
Gehen leads the Bengals’ offense with 18 goals and 10 assists for 28 points. Rachel Lenard (11-11-22), Bri Carroll (10-8-18) and Natasha Steinle (11-5-16) are the other major offensive threats for Buffalo State. In goal, Justine Silva has posted a 15-7-2 mark with a 1.77 G.A.A. and a .930 save percentage.
This marks the first meeting between the two teams in the postseason. If the Bears advance beyond Thursday’s quarterfinal, they would earn a semifinal match up at top-ranked Plattsburgh on Sunday.
Admission for Thursday’s contest is free for all attendees.
