BUFFALO, N.Y.—After playing its third game in the third location in three days, the SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team (9-13-3, 6-8-2 NEWHL) bowed 3-2 at Buffalo State (7-16, 4-11-1) in its regular season finale. Junior forward Miranda Kolb (Watertown, N.Y./SUNY Cortland) scored twice for the Bears and junior goalie Kayla McCabe (Watertown, N.Y./Syracuse Nationals) made 32 saves.
 
Despite being outshot 14-7 in the opening period, it was the Bears that got on the board first. Senior captain Rylie Murray (Berkley, Mich./Honeybaked) set up Kolb at 9:15 for a 1-0 lead. Each team was 0-for-1 on the power play.
 
Penalty trouble cost the Bears in the second period. After a tripping call against Potsdam, Madeline Kromer tied the game on the man advantage at 9:17. Just 57 seconds later, Emma Ruggiero put Buffalo State up with another power-play goal. At 14:02 Natasha Steinle netted the eventual game-winner while the teams were at even strength. The Bengals led 3-1 after 40 minutes.
 
Potsdam was unable to capitalize on a five-minute power play to open the third and after the Bears killed off the Bengals' fifth man advantage, they closed to within one. Freshman forward Stephanie Dunlap (Bath, Mich./Meijer U19 AAA) set up Kolb's second marker at 16:55. Sophomore Alexis Clark (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) picked up the second assist. Kromer was called for hooking at the same time and the Bears went on their fourth and final man advantage. With 1:48 on the clock, head coach Jay Green called timeout and pulled McCabe for an extra attacker. The Bears had two chances in the final minute, but Bengals goalie Bri Gawronski handled each to hold on to the win.
 
Gawronski finished with 28 saves. Buffalo State outshot Potsdam 35-30 and was 2-for-5 on the power play. The Bears were 0-for-4.
 
Potsdam will now spend the week preparing for its home NEWHL Semifinal matchup with SUNY Cortland next Saturday, Feb. 23.