POTSDAM, N.Y.---The SUNY Potsdam women's soccer team rallied to force overtime with St. Lawrence University (9-4-3), but the Saints came away with the 2-1 win on Wednesday night. Senior captain Kaylen Van Wagner (Red Hook, N.Y./Hotchkiss) tied the game for Potsdam with under eight minutes to go.
                                                       
The Saints were able to create and sustain pressure from early on in the contest. However, Bears senior goalie Bri Thibeau (Salem, N.Y./Salem) was sharp as usual in her final collegiate game. She turned aside six shots in the first half. With just under two minutes to go Saints freshman midfielder Kira Murphy (Lagrangeville, N.Y./Arlington School) hit the crossbar. Just 35 seconds later, Murphy launched shot from 25 years out that rang the left post and went in. SLU took the 1-0 advantage into the break.
 
The Saints started the same way in the second half. Junior forward Hannah Merriam (Elmore, Vt./People's Academy) nearly doubled the lead at the 59:31 mark, but the shot bounced off the crossbar. The Bears evened the play over the remainder of the half and made the most of their best chance of the game. With just 7:29 left in regulation, the Bears earned a corner kick. Sophomore midfielder Rylie Murray (Berkley, Mich./Berkley) placed the ball in front of the net and Van Wagner drove it home.
 
Potsdam managed the only shot of the first overtime, but couldn't net the game-winner. With just 1:13 left in the second overtime, Merriam drove a corner kick into the box and freshman forward Megan Gannon (Williston, Vt./Champlain Valley Union) buried the decisive tally.  
 
Thibeau finished with 12 saves. SLU Junior goalie Jackie Sovie (Lisbon, N.Y./Lisbon) made two stops for the win.
 
The contest marks the end of the careers of seniors Alex Guidarelli (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Walter Panas), Madison Mahar (Stillwater, N.Y./Stillwater), Thibeau, Van Wagner, Michaela Cole (Parishville, N.Y./Parishville-Hopkinton), Amanda Peterson (West Chazy, N.Y./Beekmantown), Abbey LaPage (North Bangor, N.Y./Franklin Academy), Kaleigh Zappia (Massena, N.Y./Massena) and Sara Livecchi (Red Hook, N.Y./Red Hook).
 
The Bears finish the season at 9-7-2, setting the program single-season record for winning percentage at .562. Sophomore midfielder Brooke Falsion (Brockport, N.Y./Brockport) led the team in scoring this year, and was fourth in the SUNYAC, with 11 goals and one assist for 23 points. In two seasons she has recorded 17 goals and five assists for 39 points, placing her ninth on the program's all-time scoring list.