POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team (3-3) defeated Trine University (0-9) 4-1 in the teams' first ever meeting on Tuesday evening. Sophomore forward Megan Mills (Mono, Ontario/North York Storm) scored her first career goal. Graduate student forward Megan Teachout (Auburn, N.Y./Oswego State), graduate student assistant captain Taylor Swamp (Akwesasne, N.Y./St. Lawrence Steel) and sophomore forward Alessia Marandola (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Jr. Hornets) also scored for the Bears.
 
The Bears wasted no time jumping in front at the start of the contest. Graduate student forward Kaylee Merrill (Wasilla, Alaska/Anchorage North Stars) fed the puck off a faceoff to the right point. Swamp fired and Mills tipped the puck past Thunder sophomore goalie Casey Frank (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley). Potsdam led 1-0 just 20 seconds into the contest. The teams traded multiple power plays over the rest of the period, but neither team was able to capitalize. Trine was 0-for-3 and the Bears went 0-for-4.
 
The first 10 minutes of the second period were played evenly at a brisk pace. However, the Potsdam doubled the lead at 8:32. Sophomore defenseman Victoria Proulx (Rockland, Ontario/Post University) fired high and Merrill picked up the loose puck. She fed Teachout in the slot and the forward ripped a shot past Frank to make it 2-0. Shortly after, the Bears killed off the Thunder's fourth power play. While shorthanded, junior forward Sara Barrett (Tonawanda, N.Y./Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles) nearly scored, ringing the right post with a shot. An interference call put Potsdam back on the power play at 15:01 and the Bears took advantage. Swamp tipped a shot from graduate student assistant captain Alex Quinn (Potsdam, N.Y./St. Lawrence Steel) past Frank at 15:29. Teachout had the second assist. Potsdam led 3-0 after 40 minutes.
 
The Bears started the third period on a power play, but Trine was able to kill it. After killing another penalty, the Thunder finally broke through. Junior forward Kailey Mleko (Hoffman Estates, Ill./William Fremd) finished an odd-player rush at the right post to make it 3-1 at 9:30. The Thunder pulled Frank for an extra attacker with 1:02 left. With two seconds on the clock, Marandola launched the puck down the ice for the empty-netter to seal the win. Senior defenseman Alana Palameta (Windsor, Ontario/Morrisville State) assisted on the goal.
 
Junior goalie Hannah Barrett (Tonawanda, N.Y./Niagara Jr. Eagles) finished with 21 saves to earn the victory in her first start of the season. Frank made 29 saves.
 
Potsdam was 1-for-6 on the power play and Trine was 0-for-5.
 
The two teams go at it again tomorrow at noon.