OSWEGO, N.Y. - For the second Saturday in a row, the SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team (9-9-2, 7-6-2 NEWHL) rallied from a 3-1 third period deficit with Oswego State (9-6-4, 6-4-4) to forge a 3-3 tie. Freshman forward Kaylee Merrill (Wasilla, Alaska/Anchorage North Stars) scored two goals and senior captain Shelbi Thacker (Chesterfield, Mich./Honeybaked) got the equalizer, while senior goalie Kayla McCabe (Watertown, N.Y./Syracuse nationals) made 45 saves.

The Lakers jumped on Potsdam immediately. Philomena Teggart scored just 28 seconds into the contest. The goal sparked Oswego and they were able to generate numerous scoring opportunities and fire 19 shots on McCabe. However, the Bears took advantage of their first power play at 9:00. Just 47 seconds later, Merrill buried a chance with an assist from freshman forward Alex Quinn (Potsdam, N.Y./St. Lawrence Steel). The score remained tied after 20 minutes.

The Lakers regained the lead early in the second period. Potsdam was called for interference and Oswego capitalized on its second man advantage. Sara Cruise made it a 2-1 contest at 3:18. Another penalty allowed the Lakers to keep the momentum and stifle the Bears' offense. With six seconds left, Emily Gustafson gave Oswego a 3-1 lead. McCabe stopped 14 more shots in the second.

Potsdam's offense finally clicked in the third period, thanks in part to six minutes on the power play. Merrill struck again at 8:39 with another helper from Quinn. At the 12:05 mark, Thacker tied the game on the power play with assists from senior forward Miranda Kolb (Watertown, N.Y./SUNY Cortland) and senior assistant captain Lucy Condon (Waterloo, Ontario/Waterloo Ravens).

In overtime, the Bears outshot the Lakers 4-3. They spent the last two minutes killing a penalty successfully and the two teams were forced to split the two points.

Laker goalie Rachael Farmer made 27 saves. The Bears were 2-for-5 on the man advantage and Oswego was 1-for-5.

Next, Potsdam heads to Saint Michael's College for a Tuesday night showdown with the Purple Knights at 6 p.m.

Déjà vu as Lakers Tie Bears, 3-3

OSWEGO, N.Y. – The Oswego State women's ice hockey team went into the third period with a 3-1 lead on Saturday afternoon, but had to settle for their second 3-3 tie with the Bears in the past week as Potsdam scored a pair to earn the split.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Oswego 3 | Potsdam 3
• Location:   Oswego, N.Y. – Marano Campus Center
• Records:  Oswego 9-6-4 (NEWHL 6-4-4) | Potsdam 9-9-2 (NEWHL 7-6-2)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Oswego started fast as Philomena Teggart scored her sixth goal of the season just 28 seconds into the opening period. The goal was assisted by Amber Thomas and Annika Neufeld-Kreider.  
• The first period was filled with action as both teams combined for 29 shots on goal with Oswego having 19 of them.
• Potsdam got the better of the Lakers in the faceoff circle, winning 8-of-24.
• The Bears tied things up with a power-play goal at 9:37.
• In the second, Oswego had plenty of opportunity in the offensive zone and at the 3:18 mark Sara Cruise scored her fourth goal of the year to put Oswego back on top.
• The goal was assisted by Kyleigh Grugin (5) and Bailey Thomas (5) and occurred on the power play.
• Oswego kept their offense going as they netted another one with only six seconds to go in the period on a strike from sophomore Emily Gustafson.
• It was Gustafson's second goal of the year and was assisted by A. Thomas for her seventeenth point of the season, good enough for third on the squad.
• The beginning of the third period seemed to start a tilt in Potsdam's favor as they started the period off with four consecutive shots, but were all fought off by Rachael Farmer.
• Potsdam broke the scoreless third period at the 8:39 with goal scored by Kaylee Merrill, her second of the game, and assisted by Alex Quinn to make it a one-goal game.
• Oswego had three penalties in the second half of the third period leading to Potsdam's game-tying goal on the power-play at the 12:05 mark.
• The goal was scored by Shelbi Thacker for her third goal of the season, assisted by Lucy Condon and Miranda Kolb.
• The remainder of the third period was fast-paced as both teams had multiple opportunities to score, but could not capitalize.
• Oswego in the overtime period had 12 shots, three on net, but were unable to break through for the win.
• The final shot count for the Lakers was 48. This was their third-highest shots-on-goal this season.
• Out of the 48 shots on goal for the Lakers, 12 different players recorded a shot. Including Kate Randazzo (6), Anniki Neufeld-Kreider (5), and Megan Teachout (5).
• Oswego came back to have the edge in face-offs, 35-30. They were led by Amber Thomas' 12 while Emma Morisette went 7-of-8. 
• The tie keeps Potsdam and Oswego in a tie for second place in the NEWHL standings behind No. 1 nationally ranked Plattsburgh.

 WHAT'S NEXT

The Lakers will host the Morrisville Mustangs once again in an NEWHL matchup. The game is set to start at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 5.