Potsdam, NY – Sophomore captain Meaghan Best scored a pair of goals including the game-winner 2 minutes and 31 seconds into overtime as the SUNY Canton women's hockey team earned a 4-3 OT win v. SUNY Potsdam in Northeast Women's Hockey League (NEWHL) action on Friday.
THE BASICS
- Result: SUNY Canton 4, SUNY Potsdam 3 | OT
- Location: Maxcy Ice Arena – Potsdam, NY
- Records: SUNY Canton (12-2-1, 6-2-1 NEWHL) SUNY Potsdam (4-11-1, 2-7-1 NEWHL)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Roos jumped out to an early 1-0 lead at the 5:15 mark of the opening period when Sandrene Garofalo scored off a pass from Victoria McGarrity. The Roos held a slim 10-9 shots advantage in the opening period and a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes.
- Canton doubled their lead at 4:20 of the second period on Best's first goal of the game. Brycelan Sunday and Karena Barrett picked up helpers on the play.
- Potsdam trimmed the deficit to one with just over five minutes left in the second period.
- The Roos added a critical insurance marker at 3:25 of the third period off the stick of Iida Laitinen.
- The Bears responded with back-to-back scores from Kaylee Merrill and Ellie Cleary to force overtime.
- Best's second goal of the night proved to be the difference 2:31 into overtime as Sarah Kosnaskie and Micayla MacIntyre set up the late score.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Sirena Alvarez stopped 26 shots in her 12th win of the season for the Roos.
- Ellie Zurfluh turned aside 32 shots for the Bears.
- Canton was 2-for-2 on the penalty kill, while Potsdam was 1-for-1.
- Potsdam held a 26-21 edge in face offs.
WHAT'S NEXT?
These two teams will have a rematch on Saturday at Maxcy Ice Arena at 3 p.m.
Roos thwart Bears comeback in OT, 4-3
POTSDAM, N.Y.-The SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team (4-11-1, 2-7-1 NEWHL) rallied from a 3-1 third period deficit before bowing to SUNY Canton (12-2-1, 6-2-1) 4-3 in overtime. Senior forward Stephanie Dunlap (Bath, Mich./Meijer U19 AAA), junior forward Kaylee Merrill (Wasilla, Alaska/Anchorage North Stars) and senior assistant captain Ellie Cleary (Buffalo, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) each scored for the Bears. Sophomore goalie Ellie Zurfluh (Aravada, Colo./Team Colorado) stopped 32 shots.
The Kangaroos got on the board first at 5:15 as freshman defenseman Sandrene Garofalo (Winnipeg, Manitoba/AAA Winnipeg Ice) struck for an even-strength marker. The Bears evened the play with two power plays in the opening 20 minutes, but Canton junior goalie Sirena Alvarez (Finland/Banff Hockey Academy) kept them off the board.
Just 4:20 into the second period, Roos sophomore forward Meaghan Best (Whitby, Ontario/Whitby Jr. Wolves) made it a 2-0 contest. At 14:39, Dunlap scored Potsdam's first goal after burying a pass from graduate student assistant captain Alexis Clark (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) in the slot. Junior defenseman Taylor Swamp (Akwesasne, N.Y./St. Lawrence Steel) picked up the second assist. It was a 2-1 game through 40 minutes.
Sophomore forward Iida Laitinen (Finland/JYP Naiset) regained Canton's two-goal lead with a marker 3:25 into the third period. Merrill got Potsdam back in the game just 1:34 later, beating Alvarez with a shot from between the faceoff circles. Junior forward Emily DellaNeve (Buffalo, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) assisted on the goal. At 9:36, Cleary got the Bears even with a shot from the left side of the goal. Clark and Dunlap each assisted on the goal.
Each team had chances in the overtime, but it was Best netting her second with 2:29 left to send Canton home happy.
The Roos outshot Potsdam 36-29 and were 0-for-1 on the man advantage, while Potsdam was 0-for-2.
The teams square off again on Saturday in Maxcy Ice Arena at 3 p.m.