MORRISVILLE, N.Y. - The SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team (4-10-1, 2-6-1 NEWHL) broke out for a 4-3 victory at Morrisville State (4-7-1, 2-4-1) on Tuesday afternoon. Junior forward Kaylee Merrill (Wasilla, Alaska/Anchorage North Stars) scored her team-leading ninth goal, while senior forward Makenzie Martin (Potsdam, N.Y./Potsdam High School), freshman forward Karley Green (Potsdam, N.Y./St. Lawrence Steel) and freshman forward Lyvia Chambers (Buffalo, N.Y./Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles) each recorded the first goals of their careers. Sophomore goalie Ellie Zurfluh (Aravada, Colo./Team Colorado) made 27 saves for her second career victory.
Merrill got Potsdam on the board first at 11:49 of the first period with an unassisted marker. Just 1:29 later, Martin struck with an assist from Green. Zurfluh stopped all 10 shots she faced in the opening 20 minutes.
Green notched her marker just 52 seconds into the middle stanza. Martin and freshman forward Sara Barrett (Tonawanda, N.Y./Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles) assisted on the goal. At 3:21, Morrisville finally answered as Allie Davidson closed the gap to 3-1. Chambers countered at 16:15 with an assist from graduate student assistant captain Allie Banas (Buffalo, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons). Potsdam took a 4-1 lead into the second break.
Morrisville built momentum in the third period. Pippy Prichard made it a two-goal game with a power-play marker at 7:20. Kendra Johnson added an even-strength goal at 16:56 and the Mustangs were down 4-3. With 58 seconds left, Morrisville pulled goalie Elizabeth Timby for an extra attacker. However, Potsdam's defense didn't allow a shot the rest of the game to slam the door on the victory.
Timby finished with 18 saves. Morrisville was 1-for-2 on the power play and Potsdam was 0-for-3.
The Bears are back in action on Friday when they head to Buffalo State for two games. They face the Bengals at 7 p.m. on Friday and 3 p.m. on Saturday.