SUNY Potsdam Athletics

POTSDAM, N.Y.- The SUNY Potsdam women's soccer team (8-4-1, 1-3-1 SUNYAC) fought SUNY New Paltz (2-10-2, 1-3-2 SUNYAC) to a scoreless tie on Saturday afternoon at Potsdam High School. Bears' senior goalie Bri Thibeau (Salem, N.Y./Salem) stopped five, while Hawks' junior keeper Mikaela Stiklickas (Nesconset, N.Y./The Stony Brook School) finished with four saves. The shutout marked the third for each goalie this season.
 
­­Both teams started out slow in the first half. New Paltz edged Potsdam 7-5 in shots, but neither team could solve the goalies. The Bears first major scoring chance came at 9:55, when a cross was sent into the box. Senior midfielder Jess Sterns (Henrietta, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta) settled it in front of the goal and kicked a strike, but the ball hit off the cross bar and bounced into Stiklickas's hands. Stiklickas and Thibeau each collected two saves to keep the score unchanged after the first 45 minutes of play.
 
The second half looked to be no different throughout with both teams battling to keep the ball on their offensive end. The offenses created plenty of looks, but were unable to find the back of the net. The teams tied 4-4 in shots with Stiklickas making one save and Thibeau adding two more at the end of regulation.
 
During the first overtime, Potsdam managed to get two shots off, but the scoreboard never changed. In the last ten minutes of overtime, Bears and Hawks seemed to hit another level.  New Paltz had the advantage in shots 3-2, but still neither team could get one over the goal line. The match ended in a 0-0 tie.
 
Potsdam edged the Hawks in corner kicks, 4-2 and New Paltz kicked 14 shots to the Bears 13.
 
Potsdam will travel to Buffalo State Friday and Fredonia on Saturday. Bears will hit the turf at 3 p.m. against the Bengals and 1 p.m. against the Blue Devils.