Box Score
The SUNY Potsdam women's soccer team battled back and forth through a stingy defensive match before finally surrendering a goal late in the second half as the Bears dropped a 1-0 decision to their cross-town rivals Clarkson University at Maxcy Turf Field on Wednesday night.
 
Freshman goal keeper Sara Livecchi (Red Hook, N.Y. / Red Hook) started in her first match for Potsdam (1-2) and played the entire game while recording four saves.
 
Livecchi had previously swapped halves in splitting playing time down the middle in goal with freshman Michaela Cole (Parishville, N.Y. / Parishville-Hopkinton). 
 
Livecchi was unscathed until 10:41 remaining in the second half when Golden Knights' sophomore forward Megan Strijek (Schenectady, N.Y. /Schalmont) headed in a free kick from sophomore defender Hailey Hider (Pittsford, N.Y. /Pittsford Sutherland).
 
Hider started out near midfield as she lofted a pass over several players' heads where Strijek was able to knock it in from point blank range for the difference. 
 
"I thought it was a fantastic 90-minute performance by the girls," said third-year Potsdam coach Mark Misiak.
 
"We pressed the ball well.  We defended as a group.  We fought for every inch.  It was disappointing that we allowed a kind of awkward goal to say the least.  Take nothing away from Clarkson.  This was a great performance by our girls."
 
Though Clarkson (2-1) held possession for roughly two-thirds of the match, the Bears were not without opportunities.
 
Freshman midfielder Kaylen Van Wagner (Red Hook, N.Y. / Hotchkiss) and fellow freshman Hailey Hollenbeck (Hudson, N.Y. / Hudson) took three shots apiece with each targeting a look on goal. 
 
Off the bench, substitutes Erin McClusky (Watertown, N.Y. /IHC) and Keely Sammon (Lowville, N.Y. /Lowville) tried to provide some offensive firing power but misfired on their shot attempts. 
 
Clarkson outshot Potsdam 17-8 including a 5-3 advantage for shots on goal.  But, the Bears never made it easy on them.  Potsdam came up with a key defensive play to keep the Golden Knights scoreless just before halftime when freshman Kaleigh Zappia (Massena, N.Y. / Massena) broke up a soft touch centering pass in front of her net during the final minute of the first half. 
 
Potsdam will hit the road for the first time this season.  The Bears will square off with Elmira College at 1 p.m. on Sunday before swinging through Central New York and the Capital Region with contests against SUNYIT and Sage.