POTSDAM, N.Y.—Buffalo State (4-0-1, 3-0 ECAC West) scored two second period goals and made them stand up in a 3-1 win over the SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team (4-1, 2-1) on Friday evening. Junior forward
Anna-Rose Bertin (Marathon, Ontario/Canadian International Hockey Academy) scored for the Bears and junior forward Erin Gehen (West Seneca, N.Y./Cazenovia Chiefs) had a goal and an assist for the Bengals.
The teams traded opportunities in the first period, but Buffalo State held the edge in play. The Bengals had two power plays and finished the stanza with a 12-6 advantage in shots. Bears freshman Goalie
Alexa Pfeiffer (Sylvania, Ohio/Little Caesar's) stonewalled Gehen on a breakaway with 20 seconds left to keep it scoreless heading into the intermission.
Buffalo State jumped out in front just 1:07 into the second period as Gehen stole the puck in the corner and stuffed past the pads of Bears freshman Goalie
Alexa Pfeiffer (Sylvania, Ohio/Little Caesar's). Pfeiffer robbed Gehen on a second breakaway 4:10 into the second period. It proved to be an important play 1:25 later as Bertin jammed home her own rebound on the power play to tie the game. Freshmen defensemen Delphine Léonard (Montreal, Quebec/Dawson College Prep) and
Shelbi Thacker (Chesterfield, Mich./Honeybaked) each assisted on the play. Buffalo State regained the lead at 12:22 as senior defenseman Viivi Vaatovaara (Veikkola, Finland/UCONN) finished a two-on-one. Gehen and junior forward Brooke Krantz (Penticton, British Columbia/Okanagan Hockey Academy) notched the assists. Potsdam outshot the Bengals 12-9 in the second, but trailed 2-1 at the break.
Buffalo State extended the lead to 3-1 3:14 into the third. Junior forward Missy Mallon (Amherst, N.Y./Cazenovia Chiefs) won the draw to the left of the Bears' goal. Freshman forward Jessica Carter (Scottsdale, Ariz./Northern Cyclones) picked up puck and using Mallon as a screen wristed it into the left corner of the net. The Bengals kept the Bears off balance for a good part of third period. With 1:13 to go, Pfeiffer was pulled for an extra attacker, but Potsdam couldn't get any closer.
Pfeiffer finished with 27 saves and Bengals junior goalie Justine Silva (Baldwin Park, Calif./Anaheim Lady Ducks) stopped 22 shots for the win.
Potsdam was 1-for-2 on the man advantage and Buffalo State was 0-for-3.
The teams wrap up the series tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. in Maxcy Ice Arena.
