BUFFALO, N.Y.-The SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team (7-11-1, 5-7-1 NEWHL) scored three times in the third period to break a tie and defeat Buffalo State (1-16-1, 0-11) 5-2 on Saturday afternoon. Five different Bears scored for the second day in a row. Sophomore goalie Ellie Zurfluh (Aravada, Colo./Team Colorado) made 10 saves to extend Potsdam's and her personal win streak to three games.
Junior forward Kaylee Merrill (Wasilla, Alaska/Anchorage North Stars) opened the scoring with her team-leading 11th goal of the season at 6:15 of the first period. Freshmen defensemen Sara Barrett (Tonawanda, N.Y./Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles) and Megan Sheehan (Akron, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) recorded the assists. The Bengals rallied for two in-a-row for their only goals of the weekend. Rylee Garrow tied the game with a power-play marker at 7:34. Angelina Cruzal gave Buffalo State it's lone lead at 15:49 and the Bengals took the 2-1 advantage into the first intermission.
At 11:18 of the second period, freshman forward Lyvia Chambers (Buffalo, N.Y./Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles) tied the game with helpers from graduate student captain Alexis Clark (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) and senior forward Stephanie Dunlap (Bath, Mich./Meijer U19 AAA). The Bears outshot the Bengals 20-4 in the middle stanza, but remained tied after 40 minutes.
Junior forward Megan Teachout (Auburn, N.Y./Oswego State) scored her third goal in as many games at 9:37 of the third period, while on the power play. Graduate student assistant captain Allie Banas (Buffalo, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) and senior forward Makenzie Martin (Potsdam, N.Y./Potsdam High School) picked up the assists. Freshman forward Karley Green (Potsdam, N.Y./Potsdam Ice Storm) and junior defenseman Alex Quinn (Potsdam, N.Y./St. Lawrence Steel) each added unassisted goals to give Potsdam more than enough insurance.
Jessica Auge made 37 saves for Buffalo State. Both teams were 1-for-3 on the man advantage. Potsdam outshot the Bengals 42-12.
The victory moves the Bears into tie for the fourth and final playoff spot in the NEWHL with SUNY Canton. Potsdam has split with the Roos this season and will head to Canton for the rubber match on Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m.