CANTON, N.Y.- St. Lawrence University (11-5-1) defeated SUNY Potsdam women's soccer team (6-11-1) in their final contest of the season Tuesday evening, 2-0. The Bears defense gave up a goal in each half to Katie Stames and Mackenzie Collins to take the nonconference victory.
 
"In the last two games, we played two of the toughest teams in the region," said Mark Misiak. "With nothing on the line it would have been easy for them to drop their level of play and not compete to the best of their ability tonight."
 
In the first half, the Saints controlled much of the offensive possessions with 13 shots, but was having a difficult time cracking Potsdams' defense. Under 10 minutes to go in the half, the Saints had a corner kick. Caroline Crandall sent the kick into the box and Taylor Goldsborough headed the ball toward the net, but junior goalie Bri Thibeau (Salem, N.Y./Salem) made an exceptional save to keep the game scoreless.  
 
Unfortunately for the Bears, St. Lawrence put the ball in the back of the net at the 39:59 mark. Emma Fleming played a long ball from the left sideline to Stames on the edge of the Potsdam box. Stames settled and took a quick touch around a Potsdam defender before sneaking a shot between Thibeau and the goal post to put the Saints up 1-0 at the half.
 
Opening the second half, the Saints didn't waste any time. At 56:38, Potsdam made an attempt to clear the ball out of their offensive territory, but Lindsay Geier knocked the ball down and sent a pass to Emily DePoy at the corner of the box. DePoy crossed to Collins, who pushed the ball up and sent a shot in for the second goal of the contest.
 
With the clock winding down, the Bears turned up their offensive attack. Freshman forward Jaci Morr (Monroe, Mich./Monroe) used her speed to get behind the Saints' defense. Morr only had goalie Kelsey West to beat, but the keeper came off her line and made a sliding stop. Morr got her own rebound and sent it back toward the goal for her second attempt, but again a Saints' defender blocked her shot to preserve the win.  
 
Thibeau finished with seven saves, while West made three stops for St. Lawrence.
 
"The loss is a tough one to swallow, but the effort played out in the last two games will lay the ground work for next season," added Misiak. "I am especially pleased with the four seniors Nina Komosinski (Akron, N.Y./Akron), Alli Cleaver (Watertown, N.Y./Watertown), Kate Clauss (Bloomfield, N.Y./Bloomfield) Kristin Webster (Schenectady, N.Y./Schalmont), who I wish the best."