POTSDAM, N.Y.-Oswego State (5-2-1, 3-2-1 NEWHL) scored three power-play goals to defeat the SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team (4-4, 3-4) 3-1 on Saturday afternoon. Junior defenseman Keira Thacker (Oakville, Ontario/Hamilton Hawks) scored for the Bears and senior captain Alexa Pfeiffer (Sylvania, Ohio/Little Caesar's) finished with 43 saves.
The Lakers created and sustained strong pressure on Potsdam's defense during the first period. After killing off a penalty, Oswego went on its first power play at 7:29. The Bears held the Lakers off for the first 1:22, but senior forward Eryn Stewart (Stonewall, Mich./Central Plains Midget Capitals) knocked home a rebound at the right side of the net for a 1-0 lead. Pfeiffer stopped the other 14 shots that came her way during the first 20 minutes, but Oswego led 1-0 at the break.
Potsdam created several strong scoring chances during two power plays in the middle period. However, Lakers senior goalie Rachael Farmer (Grand Island, N.Y./Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles) was sharp and kept them off the board. The Bears killed one Oswego power play in the second, but the score was unchanged after 40 minutes.
The Lakers came out firing again in the third. The aggressive play earned them third man advantage at 6:02 and they capitalized. Freshman forward Kyleigh Grugin (Knoxville, Tenn./Pittsburgh Penguins Elite) redirected a shot from the left point past Pfeiffer at 7:36 for a 2-0 lead. Potsdam answered 54 seconds later.
Junior forward Alexis Clark (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) fed Thacker as she entered Oswego's zone. Thacker carried the puck almost to the left corner and fired. The puck slipped between the left post and Farmer's right pad to close the gap to 2-1. Lakers special teams then put the game out of reach after they made the most of their fourth power play with 15:09 remaining. At 15:48, junior forward Amber Thomas (Cornwall, Ontario/Plymouth State) knocked home a rebound to extend the lead to 3-1.
Potsdam pulled Pfeiffer for an extra attacker with under a minute remaining and swarmed around the Oswego goal. With 17 seconds left, Farmer gloved a shot from the point and held on to smother the last Potsdam threat.
Farmer finished with 24 saves for the win. Oswego was 3-for-4 on the power play and the Bears were 0-for-4.
Potsdam is off until December 4, when the Bears travel to No. 1 Plattsburgh State for a rematch with the Cardinals.