POTSDAM, N.Y.—Freshman forward Jaci Morr (Monroe, Mich./Monroe) scored just 1:25 into the contest and senior captain Kristin Webster (Schenectady, N.Y./Schalmont) added a penalty kick goal in the 81st minute as the SUNY Potsdam women's soccer team (6-8-1, 1-6 SUNYAC) downed Fredonia State (6-7-1, 3-3-1) 2-0 for the first win over the Blue Devils since 1998. Bears junior goalie Emily Lapage (Brushton, N.Y./Brushton-Moira) made 10 saves for her third career win and second career shutout.
 
Morr put the Blue Devils on the defensive immediately. In the second minute, the striker received a long pass from senior captain Kate Clauss (Bloomfield, N.Y./Bloomfield) and raced past a defender. She then lofted a long shot from the right corner of the box over the head of Fredonia junior goalie Lindsey Forness (Hamburg, N.Y./Hamburg) for a 1-0 lead. The Blue Devils responded with strong pressure, but couldn't close the gap. Two minutes later, Potsdam junior defender Sarah Sinnigen (Dryden, N.Y./Dryden) made a goal line save on a shot from sophomore forward Alexis Moreland (Newfane, N.Y./Newfane) with Lapage out of position. At the 30:30 mark, Lapage stonewalled Blue Devils sophomore midfielder Kristie Kleine (Cazenovia, N.Y./Cazenovia). Kleine hit the post eight minutes after that. At the 20:25 mark, Morr nearly doubled the score, but Forness smothered the line drive. Fredonia had a final strong chance to even the score before break, but Lapage tipped a shot from Moreland over the cross bar with 3:10 left.
 
Both teams started slow offensively in the second half. However, as time ticked down, the Blue Devils' desperation increased. At 71:42, Kleine appeared to have tied the score with a goal, but it was waved off as she was ruled offside. Just 45 seconds later, Moreland tipped a perfect cross wide of the Bears right goal post. With 15 minutes remaining, Fredonia freshman defender Audrey Yokapovich (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas) launched a direct kick off the cross bar from about 25 yards out, but the Bears cleared the rebound. With 9:46 remaining, Webster was fouled in front of Fredonia's goal and then buried the ensuing penalty kick to seal the victory.
 
Forness finished with one save in the loss.
 
The victory ends a 15-game winless stretch (0-14-1) against the Blue Devils dating back to a 4-0 Potsdam win on Oct. 10, 1998.

The Bears honored seniors Nina Komosinski (Akron, N.Y./Akron), Alli Cleaver (Watertown, N.Y./Watertown), Webster, Clauss and former goalkeeper and manager Katrina Rowland (Churchville, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) prior to the game for Senior Day.
 
The Bears look to build on the victory with a strong finish to the regular season at Brockport and Geneseo next weekend.

 

SUNY Potsdam Women's Soccer Class of 2014

L-R with families: Nina Komosinski, Alli Cleaver, Kristin Webster, Kate Clauss and Katrina Rowland.

The Bears donned pink t-shirts prior to today's game to raise awareness for brain cancer victims. The team also sold the shirts during both of this weekend's games to raise money in order to battle the disease.