CANTON, N.Y - The SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team (9-8, 4-6 NEWHL) built a 3-0 first period lead, but needed a goal from senior captain Kaylee Merrill (Wasilla, Alaska/Anchorage North Stars) in overtime to clinch a 4-3 victory at SUNY Canton (11-5-2, 5-5-1 NEWHL) on Saturday. Merrill had two goals, while senior defenseman Alex Quinn (Potsdam, N.Y./St. Lawrence Steel) and freshman forward Rebecca Cain (Skaneateles, N.Y./Syracuse Valley Eagles) also scored.
Quinn opened the scoring with an unassisted marker at 6:14 of the first period. Cain doubled the lead with a power-play goal at 11:51. Merrill and Quinn picked up the assists. Merrill then made it 3-0 at 13:14, scoring on a shot from the left faceoff circle. Junior defenseman Rebecca Holmes (Lawtons, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) and sophomore forward Keely Towne (Potsdam, N.Y./Potsdam Ice Storm).
Canton's comeback started in the second period. The Kangaroos outshot Potsdam 14-9. Kamryn Barnes scored at 4:31 to make it 3-1. The score was unchanged after 40 minutes.
The Kangaroos bombarded Bears junior goalie Ellie Zurfluh (Arvada, Colo./Team Colorado) in the third. She stopped 18 shots, but Canton got even. Iida Laitinen got the Roos within 3-2 at 5:12. At the 13:04 mark, Mathide Couture scored a power-play goal to tie the score. The Bears held Canton off for the rest over regulation.
Potsdam outshot Canton 6-3 in the extra session, thanks in part to a power play. The Roos managed to kill the penalty, but then turned the puck over to the deadliest Bear. Merrill took control of a failed clear attempt, skated into the slot and wristed the puck past Canton goalie Sirena Alvarez with 37 seconds left.
Zurfluh finished with a season-high 46 saves for her 11th career victory. Alvarez stopped 30 shots. The Bears were 1-for-6 on the power play and the Roos were 1-for-7.
With three points today, Merrill now has 50 goals and 15 assists for 65 points. She moves into fifth place on the program's NCAA-era scoring list.
Potsdam is back in action next Friday when they host SUNY Cortland at 3 p.m.