MIDDLEBURY, VT.-The fourth-ranked Middlebury College Panthers (10-2-3) used a three-goal first period to pull away from the SUNY Potsdam women’s hockey team (7-10-1) for 7-1 victory on Tuesday evening. Emily Fluke scored three goals to lead the Panthers. Junior forward Alison Greene (Massena, N.Y./Norwich University) scored for Potsdam.
Middlebury took to the ice fired up, peppering Bears junior goalie Abby Tardelli (Potsdam, N.Y./North Country Ice Storm) from the outset. The Panthers got on the board at 6:42 with a goal from Jessica Young. Middlebury’s momentum didn’t slow after the goal. Ana Van Kula doubled the lead at 16:46 and 44 seconds later Fluke made it 3-0. The Panthers outshot the Bears 19-3 in the opening 20 minutes.
Middlebury didn’t take its foot off the gas in the second period. Elizabeth Wulf struck at 8:25. Tardelli continued to be impressive in goal and finished the middle stanza with 13 more saves. With a minute to go in the period, Greene got the Bears within 4-1. Senior captain Izzy Fayerman (Calgary, Alberta/The Edge) and junior assistant captain Katie Marsman (Wantagh, N.Y./Wyoming Seminar) each assisted on the play.
Just 1:05 into the third period, Fluke notched her second of the contest to regain the four-goal advantage for the Panthers. Fluke then completed her hat trick at 16:08 and Kelly Sherman completed the scoring at 17:34 as Middlebury sealed the 7-1 decision.
In goal, Tardelli finished with 45 saves. Marisa Dreher earned the win with nine saves on 10 shots in the first 49:38. Julia Neuberger stopped the only two shots she faced in the final 10:22.
Potsdam was 0-for-4 on the man advantage and the Panthers were 0-for-3.
The Bears are back in action at Saint Michael’s on Friday when they take on the Purple Knights at 4 p.m.
