POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team (10-7-2, 3-7-2 NEWHL) got goals from junior forward Jenna Patterson(Boissevain, Manitoba/Westman Wildcats), freshman forward Natalie Wasielewski (Carnegie, Pa./Pittsburgh Penguins Elite) and sophomore forward Lucy Condon (Kitchener, Ontario/Waterloo Ravens) to defeat SUNY Cortland (7-10-2, 2-9-1) 3-1 on Saturday afternoon. The Bears victory was played in front of program record 439 spectators.
 
After an early odd-man rush, which was handled deftly by Potsdam sophomore goalie Alexa Pfeiffer (Sylvania, Ohio/Little Caesar's), the Bears were able to generate and sustain good pressure on the Red Dragon's defense. Cortland sophomore goalie Rachael Farmer (Grand Island, N.Y./Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles) was sharp early, but Potsdam finally broke through at 13:25. Senior captain Brenna Wilson(Kanata, Ontario/Ottawa Senators) fed Patterson at the left side of the net and she ripped puck between the pads of Farmer for a 1-0 lead. Senior assistant captain Anna-Rose Bertin (Marathon, Ontario/Canadian International Hockey Academy) recorded the second assist on the play. Just 40 seconds later, Wasielewski beat Farmer again on a rebound off a shot from freshman defenseman Shelbi Thacker(Chesterfield, Mich./Honeybaked) at the right point. With the help of a late power play, the Red Dragons evened out the shots, but Pfeiffer preserved the 2-0 lead through 20 minutes.
 
The Bears opened the second period with good momentum, but were slowed by penalties. Potsdam was whistled for tripping at 7:54 and Cortland took advantage. Sophomore forward Emily King (Buffalo, N.Y./Buffalo Regals) knocked home deflection from the left point to close the gap to 2-1. The Bears killed off three more penalties in the period to hold the lead into the second intermission.
 
Potsdam's defense was stifling in the third period, allowing just three shots. The Bears also killed off a final penalty midway through the stanza. The Red Dragons took a high-sticking penalty at 4:21 and Potsdam added some insurance. Wasielewski fed sophomore defenseman Delphine Léonard (Montreal, Quebec/Dawson College Prep) at the right point and she hit Condon in the left faceoff circle. Condon then ripped a wrist shot over Farmer's left shoulder for a 3-1 advantage. Cortland pulled Farmer with 1:06 left, but the Red Dragons didn't threaten again.
 
Pfeiffer made 17 saves for her fourth win of the season. Farmer stopped 28 shots. The Bears outshot Cortland 31-18 and were 1-for-3 on the power play. The Red Dragons were 1-for-6.
 
The win moved Potsdam three points ahead of Cortland and into a tie with Oswego State for third place in the NEWHL.
 
The Bears are back in action Tuesday, when they head to Clinton to face Hamilton College at 7 p.m. Potsdam defeated the Continental 2-1 on Jan. 9, in Maxcy.