CORTLAND, N.Y. - SUNY Cortland (19-6, 14-4 NEWHL) led 4-1 after two periods and held on for a 4-3 win over the SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team (11-14, 6-12) on Saturday afternoon. Senior captain Kaylee Merrill (Wasilla, Alaska/Anchorage North Stars) registered a goal and two assists giving her 27 points, 12 assists and 39 points for the program's NCAA-era single-season scoring record. Sophomore defenseman Lyvia Chambers (Buffalo, N.Y./Niagara Purple Eagles) and freshman defenseman Rachelle Cain (Skaneateles, N.Y./Syracuse Valley Eagles) also scored for the Bears.
The Red Dragons pressured the Bears from the outset, but it didn't show it on the scoreboard in the first period. Cortland got out in front at the 7:21 mark as Gillian Zwolak scored. Just 2:05 later, Chambers scored with an assist from Merrill. The Red Dragons outshot the Bears 21-4 in the first period, but freshman goalie Madelyn Adamic (Mentor, Ohio/Washington Pride) kept her team in the game with 20 saves.
Cortland finally cracked the Bears' defense in the second period, scoring three goals. Kayla Persinger scored on the power play at 8:40. Natalie O'Brien made it 3-1 with another power-play marker at 13:25. Nicole Tulowiecki extended the lead to three with five minutes left in the period. Adamic made 14 more stops in the middle stanza.
Adamic made another 14 saves in the third period to allow for a late rally. Merrill scored her 56th career goal at 9:02 with an assist from Chambers. Cain then closed the gap to 4-3 with 16:15 remaining. Merrill and sophomore defenseman Sara Barrett (Tonawanda, N.Y./Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles) picked up the assists. Cortland was able to prevent the equalizer and completed the win.
Adamic finished with a career-high 48 saves, while Molly Goergen made 13 stops for the win. Cortland was 2-for-4 on the power play, while the Bears went 0-2.
Potsdam finishes the season at 11-14 and 6-12 in the NEWHL.