POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team (9-5-1, 2-5-1 NEWHL) got goals from freshman Natalie Wasielewski(Carnegie, Pa./Pittsburgh Penguins Elite), Alexis Clark (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) and junior defenseman Rylie Murray(Berkley, Mich./Honeybaked) to defeat Oswego State (7-8, 4-4) 3-1 on Sunday evening. Bears freshman goalie Samantha White(Oceanside, Calif./Anaheim Lady Ducks) made 21 saves to improve to 5-1-1 on the season.
The first period saw few quality scoring attempts, but several momentum swings. The Lakers came out with good pressure, but White and her defense kept them off balance. Oswego went on the power play just three minutes into the contest, but Potsdam's penalty kill unit was sharp and the opportunity didn't amount to anything. Late in the period, aided by their own power play, the Bears were able to test Oswego senior goalie Mariah Madrigal (Brownstown, Mich./Team Detroit). However, there was no score heading into the first intermission.
The second period started much like the first, but Potsdam was able to grab the lead midway through. At 12:46, sophomore defenseman Delphine Léonard (Montreal, Quebec/Dawson College Prep) battled along the boards and fed Wasielewski as she entered the offensive zone. Wasielewski evaded a Laker defenseman and beat Madrigal five-hole for a 1-0 lead. Exactly three minutes later, senior forward Taylor Marcellus (Waddington, N.Y./Ontario Hockey Academy) won a battle in the left corner and fed Clark in the slot. Clark one-timed it into the right corner for her first collegiate goal and the eventual game-winner. Junior forward Tatum Walber (Orchard Park, N.Y./Buffalo Regals) earned the second assist on the goal. With under four minutes to go, Potsdam was called for overlapping minors, giving Oswego a 46-second five-on-three man advantage. The Bears penalty killers took control, blocking several shots and breaking up potential threats. They allowed just one shot on goal during both penalties and took the 2-0 lead into the break.
Potsdam killed off another penalty six minutes into the third period and was rewarded with its second power play of the contest seconds later. At the 9:19 mark, Murray fired from the right point and the puck was deflected past Madrigal for a 3-0 lead. Léonard and sophomore forward Lucy Condon (Kitchener, Ontario/Waterloo Ravens) earned the assists. The Bears killed off a fifth and final Laker power play 13 minutes in, before Oswego finally broke through. At 13:46, senior forward Sarah Grupp (Charlottesville, Va./Reston Raiders) knocked home a rebound to make it 3-1. Oswego pulled Madrigal with 1:10 left, but were unable to threaten again.
Madrigal made 23 saves on the afternoon. Potsdam outshot the Lakers 26-22 and was 1-for-3 on the power play.
The Bears are back in action on Friday, when they host Buffalo State at 7 p.m. to kick off a two-game series in Maxcy Ice Arena. Potsdam split with the Bengals in Buffalo way back in November.