POTSDAM, NY - Morrisville State (2-1, 1-0 NEWHL) rallied from deficits twice to defeat the SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team (1-2, 0-1 NEWHL) 4-3 on Friday afternoon in overtime. Graduate student forward Emily Burke (San Jose, Calif./San Jose Jr. Sharks) scored two goals for the Bears and junior forward Kaylee Merrill (Wasilla, Alaska/Anchorage North Stars) scored the other. Potsdam sophomore goalie Ellie Zurfluh (Arvada, Colo./Team Colorado) made 28 saves.
The Mustangs appeared to have the edge early, but Zurfluh made several key stops to keep them off the board. Minutes later the Bears went on the power play and took advantage. Burke broke through at 6:14 with an assist from graduate student captain Alexis Clark (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons). Just 38 seconds later, Merrill picked up a loose puck and ripped it high into the net for a 2-0 lead. Morrisville countered with a power-play marker of their own at 13:48.
Freshman defenseman Kate Mabey (Guelph, Ontario/Cambridge Roadrunners) scored with assists from freshman forward Pippy Prichard (Rockford, Ill./Madison Capitals) and sophomore forward Alana McDonald (Potsdam, N.Y./Vermont Stars). 55 seconds after that McDonald tied the game when banging home a rebound off shot from Pritchard. Morrisville freshman goalie Elizabeth Timby (Getzville, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) stopped nine shots and the period and the game was tied 2-2 after 20.
There was no scoring in the second period. Each team had eight shots and Morrisville killed two penalties.
Burke buried her second power-play goal just 36 seconds into the third period. Graduate student assistant captain Allie Banas (Buffalo, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) and freshman defenseman Sara Barrett (Tonawanda, N.Y./Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles) picked up the assists. Nearly four minutes later the Mustangs answered again. Freshman forward Allie Davidson (Niagara Falls, Ontario/Brock Jr. Badgers) knotted the score with helpers from senior forward Sierra Voeller (Penticton, Britch Columbia/Okanagan Hockey Academy) and freshman forward Allicen Bouchard (Rockford, Ill./Madison Capitals). Timby made 11 saves in third and Zurfluh stopped nine shots.
In the three-on-three overtime, the Mustangs had the only shot and it was the decisive one. Freshman forward Hailee Easson (Okotoks, Alberta/Rocky Mountain Raiders) buried the game-winner at 1:03. Mabey notched the final assists.
Timby finished with 29 saves for the win. Each team had 32 shots. Potsdam was 2-for-6 on the power play and the Mustangs went 1-for-3.
The Bears are back in action on Sunday when they head to NEWHL foe Oswego State for a 3 p.m. contest.