HENNIKER, N.H.—Junior defender Emily Metz (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) scored with 4:34 remaining to lift the SUNY Potsdam women's soccer team (3-1) to a 1-0 win over New England College (0-5) in the first round of the NEC Tournament on Friday. Bears freshman goalkeeper Savannah Bowie (Mechanicville, N.Y./Mechanicville) made seven saves for her first career shutout and third career win. Freshman midfielder Emma Robbins (Newark, N.Y./Newark) assisted on the game's lone goal.
 
Potsdam outshot the Pilgrims 9-6 in the opening half. The Bears' pressure resulted in a 5-1 advantage in corner kicks. Potsdam managed to put four shots on NEC goalie Emily Sashko in the first 45 minutes, while the Pilgrims fired on Bowie twice. However, there was no score heading into the break.
 
The Bears upped the pressure in the second half with a 12-6 lead in shots and tested Sashko an additional five times. Bowie stopped five more shots as well. The teams traded opportunities through the final period, but it was Metz knocking home the decisive tally, the first of her career, in the 86th minute.
 
Potsdam outshot the Pilgrims 21-12 on the afternoon and finished with a 9-4 corner kick advantage. Sashko made eight saves.
 
The Bears are now 7-0-1 in the all-time series with NEC. They will face Roger Williams University in the tournament's finale tomorrow at 11 a.m.