POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam women's soccer team continues its historic season when the fourth-seeded Bears host fifth-seeded SUNY Oneonta this Saturday at 1 p.m. It's Potsdam's first conference postseason appearance in program history.
 
The Bears have battled their way to a 12-5-2 regular season record and a 5-3-1 mark in SUNYAC play, program-bests in both categories. The season has featured quite a lot of suspense as the Bears compiled 4-1-1 record in overtime, including a double overtime 3-2 victory against perennial power Montclair State to capture the New England College Tournament Title. Potsdam also defeated Buffalo State for the first time since 2001 in overtime to clinch a postseason berth.
 
Defense has always been a hallmark of seventh-year head coach Mark Misiak's squads and the trend has continued in 2017. Led by a defensive core of senior captain Samantha Hubinsky (South Glens Falls, N.Y./South Glens Falls), freshman Maeve Morrissey (Averill Park, N.Y./Averill Park), junior Lauren Vedete (New Hartford, N.Y./New Hartford), sophomore Augusta Hayner (Malta, N.Y./Ballston Spa) and junior Sarah Erno (Mechanicville, N.Y./Mechanicville), the Bears have allowed just 1.37 goals-per-game and recorded six shutouts.
 
Goalkeepers sophomore Delphine Léonard (Montreal, Quebec/Dawson College Prep) and freshman Gabby Hobika (New Hartford, N.Y./New Hartford) have given Misiak as strong a tandem as he's ever had. Léonard is 6-2-2 in 11 games with a .811 save percentage, a 1.27 goals-against-average and 60 saves. Hobika is 5-3-3 in eight games with a .755 save percentage, 1.53 g.a.a. and 37 stops.
 
Misiak has always had capable offensive weapons, but the Bears have gelled and executed in the clutch this season as rarely before. Junior midfielder Brooke Falsion, a second team All-SUNYAC honoree a year ago, has exploded for a career year with 12 goals and four assists for a career-high 28 points. She ranks third in the conference in scoring and has climbed to second on Potsdam's all-time scoring list. Junior midfielder Rylie Murray (Berkley, Mich./Berkley) has also raised her game to new heights. She is second on the team in scoring and fifth in the SUNYAC with seven goals and eight assists for 22 points. This season, Murray claimed the Bears all-time assists crown with 19 helpers and is tied for 10th on the scoring list. As Misiak expected, freshman Lexi Dean (Schenectady, N.Y./Mohonasen) has immediately emerged as a scoring threat. She has seven goals and three assists for 17 points, placing her third on the team and 10th in the league. Senior captain Jaci Morr (Monroe, Mich./Monroe), who is another All-SUNYAC weapon, has five goals and an assist for 11 points. Morr is tied with Dean with three game-winning goals this season and owns Potsdam's all-time record in the category with nine.
 
The Red Dragons struggled through a difficult schedule and began the season with a 1-9-1 mark. They have since caught fire, surging into playoffs the on a five-game winning streak. They have outscored opponents 25-1 during the span and defeated the Bears 4-1 on Oct. 7. Junior midfielders Julie Steinhauer (East Syracuse, N.Y./East Syracuse-Minoa) and Jess Downin (Franklin, N.Y./Frankliin) lead the Oneonta attack with for 18 (7g, 4a) and 12 (4g, 4a) points, respectively. Steinhauer is the conference's ninth leading scorer. Sophomore midfielder Christina Kornfeld (Mount Sinai, N.Y./Miller Place) also reached double-digits with four goals and two assists for 10 points. The Red Dragons feature an extremely balanced attack as the next seven top scorers range from seven to five points each.
 
Defensively, Oneonta has allowed just 1.25 goals-per-game and recorded four shutouts. Between the sticks, senior Melissa Muller (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East) has seen most of the success. She is 4-2-1 with a 0.61 g.a.a., a .828 save percentage and all four of the shutouts. Junior Emile Mull (Marcy, N.Y./Whitesboro) is 2-5 with a 1.95 g.a.a. and a .692 save percentage.
 
Tickets go on sale at noon on Saturday. They are $5 for adults, $3 for children and free for students of SUNYAC schools with their school IDs.