POTSDAM, N.Y.— SUNY Cortland (2-2-1, 1-2 NEWHL) scored late in regulation and again in overtime to defeat the SUNY Potsdam women’s hockey team (3-2, 1-1) 2-1 on Friday night. Senior forward Taylor Marcellus (Waddington, N.Y./Ontario Hockey Academy) scored for the Bears and sophomore goalie Alexa Pfeiffer(Sylvania, Ohio/Little Caesar’s) made 26 saves.
Potsdam jumped on the Red Dragons immediately. Just 32 seconds into the contest, sophomore defenseman Shelbi Thacker (Chesterfield, Mich./Honeybaked) slammed the puck off the left boards. Marcellus got behind the Cortland defense in the offensive zone, picked up the puck and slipped between the pads of sophomore goalie Rachael Farmer (Grand Island, N.Y./Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles) for a 1-0 lead. The Red Dragons outshot the Bears 11-5 in the period, partly due to two power plays, but Pfeiffer (Sylvania, Ohio/Little Caesar’s) was sharp to preserve the lead into the first intermission.
The defenses blocked plenty of shots in second period. Pfeiffer and Farmer needed to make only six saves apiece in the middle 20 minutes. Cortland was unsuccessful on two abbreviated power plays and the Bears didn’t score on one shortened opportunity. The score was unchanged after two periods.
Potsdam pressured the Red Dragons early, but couldn’t extend the lead. Cortland slowly regained the edge in play, but Pfeiffer kept them at bay until the 2:13 mark. While killing a penalty, Red Dragons sophomore forward Miranda Kolb (Watertown, N.Y./Syracuse Nationals) picked up a loose puck in her own zone and broke free. She went in all alone on Pfeiffer who got a piece of the shot, but not enough as the game was tied.
In overtime, Cortland freshman forward Katie DeVoe (Mississauga, Ontario/Vaughan Flames AAA) forced a turnover in the right corner. She fed sophomore forward Allyson Edwards (Buffalo, N.Y./Buffalo Regals) in the slot and Edwards one-timed it past Pfeiffer for the game-winner.
Farmer finished with 18 saves for the win. The Red Dragons outshot the Bears 28-19. Cortland was 0-for-6 on the man advantage and Potsdam went 0-for-4.
The two teams go at it again tomorrow afternoon in Cortland at 2 p.m.
