POTSDAM, N.Y.—Top-ranked SUNY Plattsburgh (19-1, 13-1 ECAC West) earned a 4-1 victory over the SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team (11-8-1, 7-5-1) on Saturday afternoon at Maxcy Ice Arena. Junior defenseman Rylie Murray (Berkley, Mich./Honeybaked) scored a power-play goal for the Bears and freshman goalie Alexa Pfeiffer (Sylvania, Ohio/Little Caesar's) made 37 saves.

The Cardinals jumped out in front at 6:49 as freshman forward Meghan Kraus (Fort Lewis, Wash./Northern Cyclones) fired a shot off the left shoulder of Pfeiffer. Plattsburgh made it 2-0 at 13:15 as sophomore forward Melissa Sheeran (Schaghticoke, N.Y./Millbrook School) slipped a shot from the slot between Pfeiffer's pads. Pfeiffer stopped 10 shots after the goals and finished the period with 12 saves.
 
The Bears' strongest period was the second. They matched the Cardinals shot-for-shot and got on the board. After trading unsuccessful power plays early in the period, a pair of overlapping penalties gave Potsdam a five-on-three advantage at 15:02. Just 23 seconds later, the Bears managed to screen Plattsburgh junior goalie Camille Leonard (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Jr. Hornets) as Murray's shot sailed past her. Senior forward Jordan Ott (Hilton, N.Y./Rochester Edge) and junior assistant captain Anna-Rose Bertin (Marathon, Ontario/Canadian International Hockey Academy) each assisted on the goal. Plattsburgh answered with 44 seconds left in the period. Junior forward Katelyn Turk (Mississauga, Ontario/Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins) fired a shot from the right faceoff circle through traffic to make it 3-1.
 
The Cardinals controlled the third period, but Pfeiffer kept Potsdam in the game with 15 more saves. At the 5:38 mark, freshman forward Ashley Songin (Springhill, N.Y./Nichols School) finished an odd-man rush to give Plattsburgh a three-goal advantage. The Bears had called timeout after they went on their last man advantage with 5:30 remaining, but couldn't get any closer.
 
Leonard finished with 17 saves to improve to 16-1 on the season. Potsdam was 1-for-6 on the man advantage and held the Cardinal's power-play unit to no goals in three opportunities.
 
The Bears resume their playoff hunt next weekend when they host ECAC West foe William Smith College at 2 p.m. on next Saturday and Sunday.