POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam women's soccer team (8-8-1, 4-4-1 SUNYAC) is red hot after going 3-0-1 in its last four games to clinch its third straight playoff appearance. The Bears earned the No. 5 seed in this year's SUNYAC Tournament and will travel to No. 4 Plattsburgh State for a 1 p.m. first round matchup on Saturday.
Tickets for the contest are $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 5-12 and free for students attending SUNYAC schools with school ID. The ticket window opens at noon on Saturday.
Offensively, Potsdam is averaging 2.24 goals-per-game, third best in the conference. Two-time All-SUNYAC selection and three-time PrestoSports Offensive Player of the Week
Lexi Dean (Schenectady, N.Y./Mohonasen) is the second straight Bear to lead the SUNYAC in scoring after All-American
Brooke Falsion '19 did the same last year. Dean, who has recorded seven goals and two assists in her last five games, leads the conference with 36 points (14g, 8a.). She has rapidly climbed to third place on Potsdam's all-time scoring list. Sophomore forward Makenzie Bowie (Mechanicville, N.Y./Mechanicville) has been a key offensive contributor this year with a career-high in points (16) and goals (8). The scoring balances out after the big two. Freshman midfielder
Nora Canning (Saranac, N.Y./Saranac) (2g, 2a) and sophomore midfielder
Kristina Sanchez (Averill Park, N.Y./Averill Park) (3g) each have six points. All-SUNYAC junior defender
Maeve Morrissey (Averill Park, N.Y./Averill Park) (1g, 3a) and sophomore forwards Makenna (2g, 1a) and
Margaret Crosson (East Aurora, N.Y./East Aurora) (5a) all have five points.
The Bears are allowing just 1.54 goals-per-game. The defense, led by Morrissey, senior captain
Ciara Norris (Syracuse, N.Y./Jamesville-DeWitt), senior captain
Augusta Hayner (Malta, N.Y./Ballston Spa) and Sanchez, have shut down opponents at crucial times during the season.
In goal, Potsdam has the playoff tested tandem of senior
Delphine Léonard (Anjou, Quebec/Dawson College Prep) and junior
Gabby Hobika (New Hartford, N.Y./New Hartford). Léonard is 5-4-1 this season with a 1.55 goals-against-average and a .770 save percentage. Hobika is 3-4 with a 1.64 G.A.A. and a .750 save percentage. In Potsdam history, Léonard ranks third in wins (19) and G.A.A. (1.25), while Hobika is fifth in both wins (14) and G.A.A. (1.28).
The Cardinals enter the postseason with an 8-7-1 mark and matched the Bears with a 4-4-1 conference record. Plattsburgh won the regular season meeting with the Bears 2-1 at Maxcy Turf Field on October 12. Sophomore forward Kirsten Villemaire leads a Cardinal offense that is averaging 1.63 goals-per-game. Villemaire, who has nine goals and four assists for 22 points this season, is the daughter of former Bears men's goalie Blair Villemaire '91. Senior forward Katie Matott has provided Plattsburgh with 12 points on four goals and four assists, while sophomore forward Allison Seidman (4g, 2a) and senior defender Sarah Bonner (3g 4 a) have each recorded 10 points.
Defensively, the Cardinal defense has been stingy, allowing just 1.41 goals-per-game. In goal, freshman Julia Ennis has played all but 98 minutes, posting a 7-7-1 mark, a 1.51 G.A.A. and a .726 save percentage.
The Bears defeated the Cardinals 3-0 on their last trip to Plattsburgh on September 29, 2018. Both teams reached the SUNYAC Semifinals last season. The third-seeded Bears defeated No. 6 SUNY Fredonia 5-0, while No. 4 Plattsburgh blanked No. 5 SUNY Oneonta 1-0.
