BUFFALO, N.Y.—Sophomore forward Natalie Wasielewski (Carnegie, Pa./Pittsburgh Penguins Elite) scored twice as the SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team (6-8-3, 4-3-2 NEWHL) defeated Buffalo State (5-9-2, 2-6-1) 3-1 on the road. Sophomore Alex Clark (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) also scored for the Bears and junior assistant captain Alexa Pfeiffer (Sylvania, Ohio/Little Caesar's) made 30 saves to pick up her 18th career win.
 
The Bengals held the edge in play early, but it was Potsdam getting on the board first on the power play. Wasielewski made it 1-0 at 15:53 with assists from sophomore defenseman Keira Thacker (Oakville, Ontario/Hamilton Hawks) and junior captain Shelbi Thacker (Chesterfield, Mich./Honeybaked). With just 18 seconds left, Buffalo State got even with an even-strength tally from Lila Toczek. The Bengals outshot Potsdam 11-7 in the first.
 
It was all Bears in the second period as they fired 18 times on Buffalo State goalie Bri Gawronski and only allowed four shots on Pfeiffer. Wasielewski gave Potsdam the lead back at 6:44 with an assist from junior forward Lucy Condon (Waterloo, Ontario/Waterloo Ravens). Almost 10 minutes later Clark made it 3-1 at 16:12 with assists from freshman forward Stephanie Dunlap (Bath, Mich./Meijer U19 AAA) and sophomore defenseman Emily Burke (San Jose, Calif./San Jose Jr. Sharks). The score was unchanged at the second intermission.
 
The Bengals picked up the pressure in the third period. They created several chances on two power plays, but couldn't solve Pfeiffer. Buffalo State pulled Gawronski with 38 seconds left, but got no closer.
 
Gawronski finished with 27 stops. Potsdam was 1-for-1 on the power play and the Bengals were 0-for-3.
 
The two teams go at it again tomorrow afternoon in Buffalo at 2 p.m.