POTSDAM, N.Y.-Junior forward Emily DellaNeve (Buffalo, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) scored a power-play goal 2:30 into overtime to complete the SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team's (2-4-1) 3-2 comeback victory over Saint Michael's College (0-10) on Friday evening. Freshman forward Lyvia Chambers (Buffalo, N.Y./Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles) scored her first career goal and junior forward Kaylee Merrill (Wasilla, Alaska/Anchorage North Stars) tied the game in the third period with a highlight reel goal.
Potsdam outshot the Purple Knights 11-4 in the first period. The Bears slowly gained the upper hand territorially and then made the most of their first power-play opportunity. After an interference call at 15:22, Chambers struck 40 seconds later for the contest's first marker. The freshman beat Saint Mike's sophomore goalie Carissa Mudrak (Duluth, Minn./Gentry Academy) with a high shot from the right faceoff circle. Senior assistant captain Ellie Cleary (Buffalo, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) and Merrill each assisted on the goal.
Potsdam continued to press in the second period, but the Purple Knights made the most of their third power play to tie the score. Junior forward Ella Sacco (Melrose, Mass./Middlesex Islanders) twisted her way through the Bears' defense and wristed a shot into the right top corner of the net. Potsdam outshot Saint Mike's 9-3 in the middle 20 minutes, but found the game tied.
The third period saw six penalties and two goals. Just 3:15 into the period, sophomore forward Jenna Hoops (Woodbury, Minn./Saint Paul United) picked up the carom off a wide shot and fired it into the left side of the net on the power play for a 2-1 lead. The Purple Knights' defense was tougher in the third period, limiting Potsdam to just seven shots. At 13:37, Chambers hit Cleary in stride with a breakout pass. Cleary then did the same to Merrill, who cut past a Saint Mike's defender, slipped in front of the goal and beat Mudrak five-hole to tie the game.
Less than a minute into to overtime, the Purple Knights were called for a cross check. At 2:30, DellaNeve fired a high shot. Mudrak got a glove on it, but couldn't stop it as it fell behind her for the game-winner. Graduate student assistant captain Allie Banas (Buffalo, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) and freshman goalie Hannah Barrett (Tonawanda, N.Y./Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles) recorded the assists.
Barrett made nine saves for her first collegiate victory. Mudrak finished with 27 stops. Each team was 2-for-7 on the power play.
The two teams meet up again tomorrow afternoon in South Burlington at 4 p.m.