POTSDAM, N.Y.—SUNY Cortland (4-0, 4-0 NEWHL) scored a goal in each period to defeat the SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team (2-2, 2-2) 3-0 on Saturday afternoon. Senior captain Alexa Pfeiffer (Sylvania, Ohio/Little Caesar's) made 31 saves in goal for the Bears.
 
The first period was an even matchup between the two NEWHL Semifinalists from a year ago. Cortland outshot Potsdam 10-8 and wasn't able to capitalize on the lone power play of the period. The Red Dragons finally scored on a breakout with 4:38 left. Sophomore forward Quinn Metcalfe (Churchville, N.Y./Rochester Monarchs) picked up the puck at the left side of the neutral zone, carried it into the Bears zone and fired. Pfeiffer got a piece with her stick, but the puck found its way through. Cortland led 1-0 at the break.
 
The Red Dragons pressured Potsdam for much of the second period and it paid off. After testing the Bears defense consistently, freshman forward Dany Donegan (Cicero, N.Y./Syracuse Nationals) wristed a rebound over Pfeiffer's glove for a 2-0 lead at 11:39. The senior goaltender and Potsdam's defense were solid the rest of the period, but the offense struggled to get going. The Bears killed off a second penalty late, but still trailed by two at the second intermission.
 
The trend continued in the third period. The teams alternated two unsuccessful power plays apiece, but Cortland continued to test Pfeiffer. With 1:37 remaining, Red Dragons junior forward Grace Schnorr (Camillus, N.Y./Little Caesar's) scored on a shot from the right faceoff circle to close the scoring at 3-0.
 
Cortland junior goalie Chelsea Allain (Malta, N.Y./Canterbury School) made 15 saves for the shutout. The Red Dragons were 0-for-4 on the power play and the Bears were 0-for-3.
 
The Bears are back in action on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. when they host top-ranked and defending national champion Plattsburgh State.