POTSDAM, N.Y. - The SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team (8-8-1, 6-5-1 NEWHL) played host to conference rival Oswego State (9-4-3, 6-3-3 NEWHL) on Saturday afternoon, battling back from an early 2-0 deficit to earn the 3-3 tie. Junior forward Natalie Wasielewski (Carnegie, PA./Pittsburgh Penguins Elite) scored twice for the Bears, and junior forward Alexis Clark (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) recorded assists on all three Potsdam goals.

Oswego State jumped on the Bears early, netting their first goal of the game just 1:12 into the opening stanza. After a turnover behind the Bears net, Amber Thomas found herself all alone in front and was able to slide the puck around Bears senior goaltender Alexa Pfeiffer (Sylvania, Ohio/Little Caesar's).

The early goal seemed to wake the Bears up as the play evened out for much of the remaining time. Oswego was able to add to their lead with just under five minutes remaining in the period as Megan Teachout buried a pass from Kyleigh Grugin on a 2-on-1 rush. Morgan Shines assisted on the play as well. The Lakers would take the two-goal lead into the locker room.

Fast-paced play continued right from the opening faceoff of the second period, with both teams showcasing strong defensive play. The Bears would finally get their opportunity to claw back in the game as Oswego State took three penalties in a span of 1:10 with just over five minutes remaining in the period.

The Bears wasted no time striking, as just 25 seconds into their first 5-on-3 opportunity they cut the lead in half. Senior defenseman Delphine Leonard (Anjou, Quebec/Dawson College Prep) fired a shot from the point that Clark was able to dig loose from beneath the goalie, allowing freshman forward Kaylee Merrill (Wasilla, Alaska/Anchorage North Stars) to jam the puck into the open net.

The Bears powerplay opportunity would continue following the goal. Once again, the Bears struck quickly for another tally. Leonard would fire another point shot just wide of the Oswego net, where Clark was able to win a puck battle and feed Wasielewski at the side of the net for the game-tying goal. The score would be deadlocked at two headed into the third.

The third period featured back-and-forth action with quality scoring opportunities at each end. Both Pfeiffer and Lakers goalie Rachel Farmer held the other team's offense at bay for much of the final stanza. It was Oswego who was able to break the tie, scoring their third goal of the game just past the midway mark of the period. Avery Webster fed the puck up ice for Shines who entered the zone on a 2-on-1 rush.

Instead of passing the puck across ice, Shines took the shot herself, catching Pfeiffer leaning off her post and sneaking the puck in the top left corner of the net. Feeling the pressure of the winding clock, the Bears turned up the heat and searched for the equalizer. The Bears last hope was to capitalize on a powerplay opportunity with just under a minute to go. Just when it seemed they had run out of time, it was Wasielewski who found the puck in a scrum of players in front of the Oswego net with seven seconds remaining in the period to tie the game at three. Clark and freshman forward Alex Quinn (Potsdam, N.Y./St. Lawrence Steel) assisted on the buzzer beater goal.

Overtime was more of the same as both teams had chances to walk away with the win. The best chance of overtime came for the Lakers, but Pfeiffer slammed the door on a wide-open slot shot that she gloved out of midair. Time would run out with the scored tied at three.

Pfeiffer stopped 41 shots in net for the Bears, while Framer recorded 28 saves at the other end. The Bears were 3-9 on the powerplay, the Lakers finished 0-6

The Bears hit the ice again on Wednesday as they host No. 1 Plattsburgh at 7 pm.