POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team (2-0, 1-0 SUNYAC) erased a 1-0 deficit to earn a 2-1 win over SUNY Canton (2-1, 0-1) on Friday evening the programs' first ever SUNYAC contest. Sophomore forward Alessia Marandola (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Jr. Hornets) scored the game-winner and graduate student captain Kaylee Merrill (Wasilla, Alaska/Anchorage North Stars) had a goal and an assist. Sophomore goalie Magalie Parent (Trois-Rivières, Quebec Les Diablos – Cégep de Trois-Rivières) made 19 saves for her third career win.
 
The teams were evenly matched as the contest opened. Play picked up with the first man advantage of the game. The Kangaroos went on the power play with 10:05 on the clock. They moved the puck well, but managed just one shot on Parent and she handled it. Just over two minutes later the Bears earned their first power play. They tested Canton freshman goalie Molly Lenihan (West Chezzetcook, Nova Scotia/Ontario Hockey Academy) five times, but couldn't jump in front. With 1:35 left in the period, Roos freshman Isabella Paswaters (Northglenn, Colo./Team Colorado) fired from the right corner. The puck hit Parent and went in for the 1-0 lead. The Bears went into the intermission down a goal, but had nearly a full power play to start the second.
 
Potsdam didn't score on the power play, but managed to kill a penalty of its own moments later. That set the stage for Merrill. Just over five minutes into the period, sophomore forward Megan Mills (Mono, Ontario/North York Storm) started a breakout. Graduate student forward Megan Teachout (Auburn, N.Y./Oswego State) redirected the puck to Merrill who carried it in to Canton's zone on the right wing side. She then ripped the puck over Lenihan's glove side to tie the score. Each team was unable to grab the lead with a power-play opportunity as the middle 20 minutes came to a close.
 
Marandola struck just 19 seconds into the third period. Merrill sent the puck to senior defenseman Megan Sheehan (Akron, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) at the right point. Sheehan found Marandola in the slot. Lenihan stopped the first chance, but Marandola buried her own rebound stick side to make it 2-1. Another power play opportunity each didn't change the score. Potsdam turned up the effort in the final minutes, pinning Canton in its own end. The Roos finally broke out and pulled Lenihan with 14 seconds left. After an icing against the Bears, Canton created two late chances before Potsdam defused the threat for the win.
 
Lenihan finished with 20 stops. Each team was 0-for-4 on the power play.
 
Merrill now has 59 career points. She's two behind Hall of Famer Jordan Ott '17 for the NCAA-era goals scored record and three points behind Jessica Silveira '14 (35-48-83) for third place on the scoring list.
 
The Bears hit the road for the first time this season tomorrow night when they head to Morrisville State for a 6 p.m. SUNYAC battle.