Box Score
POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam women's soccer team (0-0-1) tied Alfred University (0-0-1) in the first round of the Potsdam College Cup on Saturday afternoon. In the other contest, New England College (1-0) shut out Alfred State (0-1) 2-0. Junior midfielder Jess Sterns (Henrietta, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta) scored for the Bears.
 
Sterns got Potsdam on the board immediately. Just 1:23 into the season, the junior fired a shot from the right side of the box. Saxon freshman goalie Sammy Jo Shanahan (Valley Stream, N.Y./Valley Stream South) got a piece of the ball, but not enough to keep it from bouncing over the goal line. The Bears controlled the play, outshooting Alfred 14-1 in the first half, but couldn't get any insurance and led 1-0 at the break.

Potsdam continued to hold the advantage in play in the second 45 minutes, adding another nine shots to its total to the Saxons' three, but remained stuck at just a tally. In the 86th minute, Alfred sophomore forward Mariana Crevison (Scottsville, N.Y./Wheatland-Chili) found a seam in the defense and fired a shot past Bears junior goalie Bri Thibeau (Salem, N.Y./Salem) to force overtime.
 
The teams traded just one shot on goal in the first 10-minute overtime period. Potsdam fired three on goal in the second extra session, but the contest ended in a draw. The game went to penalty kicks for a potential tie-breaker, but despite two spectacular saves by Thibeau, the Saxons came out on top, 5-4.
 
Thibeau finished with four saves in her Bears debut, while Shanahan was sharp with 14 stops for Alfred. Potsdam finished with a 28-6 advantage in shots and a 7-0 edge in corner kicks.
 
In the early game, New England College used two first half tallies to put away Alfred State. Sophomore forward Jess Dowson (Winthrop, Mass./Winthrop) buried a pass from senior forward Amber Rose (Southampton, Mass./Hampshire) to make it a 1-0 Pilgrim lead at the 21:54 mark. Nearly 17 minutes later, freshman forward Jaycie Tiandafilou (Newburyport, Mass./Newburyport) doubled the advantage with an assist from senior defender Haley Calabro (Manchester, N.H./Central). The shots were even in the second half, at six apiece, but the Pioneers were unable to crack New England's defense.
 
Pilgrim senior goalie Tricia Sardagnola (Shrewsbury, Mass./Assabet Valley) made six stops to earn the shutout, while Alfred State freshman keeper Allison Danielak (Hamilin, N.Y./Brockport) finished with five.
 
The teams trade partners tomorrow afternoon. The Pilgrims square off with the Saxons at noon and the Bears host the Pioneers at 2:30 p.m.