POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team (3-6-1, 1-4-1 NEWHL) rallied from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits to defeat Buffalo State (0-10, 0-5) 6-3 on Saturday afternoon. Junior forward Kaylee Merrill (Wasilla, Alaska/Anchorage North Stars) stayed hot, scoring twice for the Bears. Junior forward Emily DellaNeve (Buffalo, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) had a goal and an assist and senior forward Stephanie Dunlap (Bath, Mich./Meijer U19 AAA) added two assists.
 
The Bengals got on the board first at 5:39 with a goal from senior forward Angelina Cruzal (Campbell, Calif./San Jose Jr. Sharks). Potsdam outshot their opponents 12-6 in the period, but were down at the first intermission.
 
The offenses exploded in the second period, combining for five goals. At 5:20, senior defenseman Tori Fadeley (Buffalo, N.Y./Cazenovia Chiefs) made it a 2-0 contest after a burying a pass from behind the net at the left post. Exactly one minute later, Merrill netted her first. She deflected a pass from junior defenseman Taylor Swamp (Akwesasne, N.Y./St. Lawrence Steel) out of the air and past Buffalo State goalie Jessica Auge (Laingsburg, Mich./Honeybaked Detroit). Graduate student assistant captain Allie Banas (Buffalo, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) picked up the second assist. The Bears tied the game at 11:01 as freshman defender Sara Barrett (Tonawanda, N.Y./Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles) knocked home the rebound from a DellaNeve shot. Dunlap had the second assist. As the momentum was seemingly shifting completely in Potsdam's direction, Buffalo State scored again. Cruzal made it netted her second at 13:51, but it was the last highlight for the Bengals. At 15:17, Dunlap won the draw at the right circle in the offensive zone. The puck bounced off boards to junior defenseman Alex Quinn (Potsdam, N.Y./St. Lawrence Steel), who fired from the right point. A screened Auge didn't see the puck as it snuck in past her. The contest was tied after 40 minutes.
 
Merrill netted the game-winner at 5:36 of the third period after her rebound was knocked into the net by a Bengal. Graduate student captain Alexis Clark (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) and freshman defenseman Megan Sheehan (Akron, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) each assisted on the goal. Just over two minutes later, freshman forward Lyvia Chambers (Buffalo, N.Y./Niagara Jr. Eagles) gave the Bears some insurance with assists from Dunlap and freshman forward Karley Green (Potsdam, N.Y./St. Lawrence Steel). With 1:20 left, Buffalo State called timeout and pulled Auge for an extra attacker. With time ticking down, senior assistant captain Ellie Cleary (Buffalo, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) took possession of the puck in Potsdam's end and send a cross ice pass to DellaNeve. DellaNeve stepped over center ice and sent a long shot into the net with one second left to close the scoring.
 
Barrett earned her second career win with 19 saves. Auge stopped 44 shots. The Bengals were 0-for-2 on the power play.
 
The Bears are back in action next Friday when they head to Vermont for a meeting with Colby College in the first round of the Castleton Invitational at 7 p.m.