CORTLAND, N.Y. - The SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team (6-8, 4-5 NEWHL) ended a three game skid against SUNY Cortland (10-4-1, 4-4-1) with a 4-1 road victory on Friday night. Junior forward Natalie Wasielewski (Carnegie, Pa./Pittsburgh Penguins Elite) scored two goals and senior assistant captain Delphine Léonard (Anjou, Quebec/Dawson College Prep) had a goal and an assist for the Bears. Freshman forward Kaylee Merrill (Wasilla, Alaska/Anchorage North Stars) also scored and senior goaltender Kayla McCabe (Watertown, N.Y./Syracuse Nationals) made 43 saves.
Potsdam jumped on the Red Dragons in the opening minutes. Cortland's Olivia Wilburn was called for a trip 2:01 into the game and Wasielewski buried a power-play marker 56 seconds later. Senior assistant captain Lucy Condon (Waterloo, Ontario/Waterloo Ravens) and senior forward Miranda Kolb (Watertown, N.Y./SUNY Cortland) each picked up assists. The Bears killed off two penalties as the first period ticked away then struck again late. With 1:37 left, Merrill broke loose and beat Red Dragons goalie Chelsea Allain to make it 2-0. Sophomore defenseman Ellie Cleary (Buffalo, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) and Léonard assisted on the goal. McCabe stopped all 13 shots she faced in the first and Potsdam took the 2-0 lead into the intermission.
Three more Cortland power plays in the second period, including one in the final minutes allowed the Red Dragons to create good pressure and multiple quality scoring chances. With 54 seconds left, Jayden Kelley tipped a shot from the point past McCabe on the man advantage to cut the lead in half. The Bears led 2-1 after 40 minutes. McCabe turned aside 17 more Cortland shots in the second.
Potsdam put the game away with two more goals in the third. At 5:47, Wasielewski knocked home her own rebound to make it 3-1 with a helper from junior defenseman Keira Thacker (Oakville, Ontario/Hamilton Hawks). At 10:53, Cortland was called for a checking penalty and 1:11 later, Léonard struck to give Potsdam a three-goal lead. The Red Dragons pulled Allain late to try to get closer, but McCabe sealed the win with 13 third period saves.
Allain made 26 saves. The Bears were 2-for-4 on the power play and Cortland finished 1-for-6.
Potsdam heads to Morrisville State tomorrow for another crucial NEWHL contest at 2 p.m.