POTSDAM, N.Y.- A late third period goal from junior forward
Karley Cree (Hogansburg, N.Y./SUNY Canton) lifted the SUNY Potsdam women's ice hockey team (6-8-1, 4-6-1 ECAC West) to a 2-1 win over SUNY Cortland (2-10-1, 1-6-1) on Saturday afternoon at Maxcy Ice Arena. Freshman forward
Jaci Morr (Monroe, Mich./Team Detroit) also scored for the Bears. Senior forward Gwen Paul (Incline Village, NV/San Jose Sharks) scored the only goal for the Red Dragons.
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At 3:57 of the opening period, Cortland found the back of the net to seize the 1-0 lead. Paul found her way around a couple Potsdam defenders to score an unassisted, power play goal. The Red Dragons held the 1-0 advantage at the break.
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Potsdam managed to tie the game less than four minutes into the second stanza when freshman forward
Brenna Wilson (Kanata, Ontario/Ottawa Senators) made a perfect pass to Morr in front of Cortland's goal. Morr ripped it past sophomore goalie Kelly Farinella (Marlton, NJ/New Jersey Rockets) to even the score. Potsdam held a 15-11 advantage in shots during the period and the score remained 1-1 at intermission.
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Impressive defense by both teams kept shots to a minimum in the third period. With the clock running down, Cree lit the lamp for the Bears off a pass from sophomore defenseman
Kaylen Van Wagner (Red Hook, N.Y./Hotchkiss Prep) and sophomore forward
Amanda Peterson (West Chazy, N.Y./Chazy Flyers). The goal marked Cree's first goal in a Bears uniform and the go-ahead score to seal the victory.
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Junior goalie
Alexane Rodrigue (Monkland, Ontario/Bemidji State) had 28 saves between the posts for the Bears and Farinella finished with 31.
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The Bears look to continue their momentum when they travel to Utica College on Friday, to take on the Pioneers at 7 p.m.
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