POTSDAM, N.Y.—After having her banner revealed in the rafters prior to the game, All-American Kaylee Merrill (Wasilla, Alaska/Anchorage North Stars) picked up where she left off. She scored two goals to lift the SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team (1-0) to a 3-2 win over Castleton University (0-1) in the season opener. The victory was also the first for new head coach Olivia Cook. Freshman forward Jalynn Castro (Dexter, N.Y./Syracuse Valley Eagles) also scored her first career goal for the Bears and sophomore forward Alessia Marandola (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Jr. Hornets) added two assists.


The Bears pressed the Spartans in the opening few minutes, before taking a penalty. While the man advantage was unsuccessful, it sparked Castleton and they sustained pressure. Senior goalie Ellie Zurfluh (Arvada, Colo./Team Colorado) kept the Spartans off the board with key saves during the stretch. Castro opened the scoring at 7:11. Graduate student assistant captain Alex Quinn (Potsdam, N.Y./St. Lawrence Steel) and sophomore forward Josie Purdy (White Lake, Nova Scotia/Ontario Hockey Academy) assisted on the goal. At 15:25, Spartans freshman forward Taylor Adams (Frankford, Ontario/North York Storm Jr.) tied the game with a power-play marker. The contest remained even at the break.
 
The Bears controlled the second period, outshooting Castleton 19-5. At 4:37, Merrill walked in on Spartans senior goalie Kirsten DiCicco (Lowell, Mass./Holderness School) and wrapped the puck around her to make it 2-1. Marandola and senior defenseman Megan Sheehan (Akron, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) picked up the assists. DiCicco stopped the other 18 shots she faced and Potsdam led by one after 40 minutes.
 
Merrill extended the lead just 27 seconds into the final stanza. Freshman defenseman Jessika Bullock (Norfolk, N.Y./Adirondack 46ers) collected her first collegiate point with an assist and Marandola had the second helper. Penalty trouble hurt the Bears over the remainder of the game. At 13:37, Taylor got Castleton back within one with another power-play goal. Down just one, the Spartans kept the heat on. With 40 seconds left, DiCicco was pulled for an extra attacker. Potsdam was called for a final penalty with six seconds left, moving the faceoff into the Bears end. Castleton won the draw, but the Bears blocked a shot and ran out the clock.
 
Zurfluh finished with 22 saves for her 13th career victory. DiCicco made 31 stops.
 
Potsdam outshot the Spartans 34-24. Castleton was 2-for-7 on the power play and the Bears were 0-for-5.
 
Potsdam is back in action on Friday, when the Bears host SUNY Canton at 7 p.m. in their first ever SUNYAC contest.