POTSDAM, N.Y.—Neumann College (13-6-4, 10-6-2 ECAC West) scored both of its goals in the second period and held off a late charge by the SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team (8-13-2, 4-11-1) for a 2-1 victory on Senior Day at Maxcy Hall. Freshman forward Emma Smetaniuk (Frankford, Ontario/Whitby Wolves) scored a short-handed goal for the Bears. The loss ends Potsdam's playoff hopes.

After a lackluster and scoreless first period by both squads, the Knights capitalized on two opportunities in the second. At the 3:16 mark of the second period Neumann freshman forward Edie Brenning (Greely, Ontario/Nepean Jr. Wildcats) fed fellow freshman forward Angela Gilmour (Simcoe, Ontario/Simcoe Composite) at the right side of the slot and Gilmour roofed the puck for a 1-0 lead. Nine minutes later the Knights made the most of their third power play as junior forward Khristine Acosta (Middletown, N.J./New Jersey Rockets) buried a rebound off a shot from senior forward Jessica Schroeder (Sudbury, Ontario/Sudbury Wolves). Junior defenseman Kayla Dubowski (Emeryville, Ontario/Windsor Wildcats) recorded the second assist on the play. Potsdam had a few chances late in period, but trailed 2-0 heading into the second intermission.

“Heading into the third period I told the team “just go out and play. Play for pride. Go out and battle and try to put something in the net,” said Bears Head Coach Jay Green. “I thought we played very well in the third. Our Intensity was there and it made a lot of difference in terms of opportunities.”

Potsdam responded to Green's pep talk, outshooting Neumann 17-6 in the final 20 minutes. Smetaniuk finally got the Bears on the board at the 7:19 mark. After catching a pass from junior defenseman Breanna Roy (Orleans, Ontario/Nepean Wildcats), Smetaniuk carried the puck into the Knights' zone and blasted a shot from the right face-off circle. Neumann junior goalie Kendra Chisholm (Sherwood Park, Alberta/St. Albert Slash) got a piece of the puck, but it trickled over the goal line. Potsdam continued to press Neumann with no luck. The Bears pulled sophomore goaltender Jen Conophy (Glenmont, N.Y./Albany Ice Cats) with 1:43 for an extra attacker, but came up just short.

Chisholm made 35 saves for the victory, while Conophy finished with 25 stops. The Knights went 1-5 on the power play and Potsdam was 0-5.

Before the game the Bears honored their two seniors, captain Courtney Laughlin (Gambrills, Md./Princeton Tiger Lilies) and defenseman Kristine Faffley (Westmoreland, N.Y./UMass Boston).

“With Courtney Laughlin and Kristine Faffley, it doesn't matter if it was 70 games ago or this one today, they give you the same thing every day,” Green said. “That says a lot about them as people and as athletes.”

Laughlin has been with the team since before it returned to varsity status in 2008. Faffley transferred in for the Bears' first varsity season. Both seniors have played in 70 of Potsdam's 71 varsity games.

Potsdam wraps up its third campaign on Feb. 19-20, when it travels to Pittsburgh for two ECAC West games with the Chatham Cougars. Game times to be announced.