MORRISVILLE, N.Y. - The SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team (7-8, 5-5 NEWHL) got power-play goals from freshman forward Kaylee Merrill (Wasilla, Alaska/Anchorage North Stars) and senior assistant captain Lucy Condon (Waterloo, Ontario/Waterloo Ravens) to defeat the Morrisville State (7-8-1, 4-5-1) 2-1 on Saturday afternoon. Senior captain Alexa Pfeiffer (Sylvania, Ohio/Little Caesar's) had her shutout spoiled with two seconds left, but still had a strong performance with 38 saves. The victory was the program-leading 24th of her career.
There was no scoring in the first period. Pfeiffer and Morrisville goalie Sissy Harman each stopped eight shots. Potsdam had the lone power play of the first 20 minutes.
The Bears went on their second power play of the contest at 8:52 of the second period. Merrill got Potsdam on the board 1:13 later with assists from freshman forward Emily DellaNeve (Buffalo, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) and junior defenseman Kiera Thacker (Oakville, Ontario/Hamilton Hawks). Morrisville responded with good pressure, firing 14 shots on Pfeiffer, but still found themselves down a goal heading into the second intermission.
After killing a penalty to start the third period, the Bears went on their third and final power play at 6:21. Just nine seconds later, Condon buried the eventual game-winner with assists from senior assistant captain Delphine Léonard (Anjou, Quebec/Dawson College Prep) and junior forward Natalie Wasielewski (Carnegie, Pa./Pittsburgh Penguin Elite). With 1:29 remaining, Morrisville pulled Harman for an extra attacker. The strategy worked, but was too late for the Mustangs as Alana McDonald finally solved Pfeiffer with two seconds left.
Harman finished with 17 saves. Potsdam was 2-for-3 on the power play and Morrisville was 0-for-3.
The Bears look to keep their momentum going when they head to SUNY Canton for another important conference matchup on Wednesday night at 7 p.m.