SOUTH BURLINGTON, N.Y.-Saint Michael's College (1-10) avenged yesterday's overtime loss with a 6-2 victory over the SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team (2-5-1) on Saturday evening. Junior forward Kaylee Merrill (Wasilla, Alaska/Anchorage North Stars) and freshman defenseman Rebecca Holmes (Lawtons, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) each scored for the Bears. The goal was the first of Holmes' career.
The Purple Knights started quickly. Mary Leys made it 1-0 at 4:42 of the first period with a shot from the right circle. Maeghan Kennard doubled the lead nearly 10 minutes later, backhanding a shot off Bears freshman goalie Hannah Barrett's (Tonawanda, N.Y./Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles) skate.
Saint Mike's scored three times in the second period, including twice on the man advantage. At 3:35, Jenna Hoops scored a power-play goal from the left circle on a shot that went off of Barrett's glove. Just 53 seconds later, Angelina Ruiz extended the lead to 4-0 after knocking home a loose puck at the left post. Hoops roofed a wrap-around on the power play at 16:40. At 17:51, Merrill stole the puck away on the blue line and beat Saint Mike's goalie Leah White for a short-handed goal. Potsdam trailed 5-1 after 40 minutes.
The teams split the scoring in the final period. Grace Canterbury made it a five-goal game again at 10:27 with on a backhander. At 16:48, Holmes took picked off a puck in the left circle and beat White for the game's final goal.
Barrett finished with 25 saves and White earned the win with 26 stops. The Purple Knights were 2-for-5 on the power play and Potsdam was 0-for-2.
The Bears are back in action next Friday, December 4, when they host No. 1 Plattsburgh State at 7 p.m.