ASTON, PA.-Seven different Bears scored and six had multiple point games as the SUNY Potsdam women’s hockey team (7-12-2, 2-11-1 ECAC West) ended a two-game slump with a 7-2 thumping of Neumann University (4-15-1, 2-12-1). Junior forward Jordan Ott (Hilton, N.Y./Rochester Edge), senior defenseman Rachel Grefke (Livonia, Mich./Victory Honda), senior captain Katie Marsman (Wantagh, N.Y./Wyoming Seminary), freshman forward Jenna Patterson (Boissevain, Manitoba/Westman Wildcats) and sophomore forward Anna-Rose Bertin (Marathon, Ontario/CIH Academy) each had a goal and an assist.
Potsdam controlled the game from the outset, though the Bears had to settle for a draw in the opening 20 minutes. The Knights were called for body-checking 2:07 into the contest and Bertin made them pay with a power-play goal 47 seconds later. Marsman assisted on the play. The lead lasted just 3:22 as Megan Russelo tied the game at 6:16. Neumann held off the Bears on two more power plays in the period and Potsdam killed off the Knights first man advantage.
The second period started much the same way. After a Potsdam penalty, the Knights took overlapping penalties. Junior forward Amanda Peterson (West Chazy, N.Y./Chazy Flyers) scored a 5-on-3 power-play goal at 6:18 with a helper from Bertin. Again Neumann answered just 1:12 later. Bek Lucas made it a 2-2 contest at 7:30. It was all Bears from that point on. Marsman scored the eventual game-winner at 14:31 and freshman defenseman Riley Murray (Berkley, Mich./Honeybaked) scored with 11 seconds left to give Potsdam a 4-2 lead. Grefke and senior captain Sally Mooney (Columbus, Ohio/Wyoming Seminary) each recorded assists.
The Bears tacked on three more in the third, while outshooting Neumann 17-7. Grefke netted her first of the season on a feed from Patterson. Ott scored her program best 45th career goal at 15:10 with a solo effort. Patterson closed the scoring at 17:16 with assists from Mooney and Ott.
Senior assistant captain Abby Tardelli (Potsdam, N.Y./North Country Ice Storm) made 23 saves for her seventh win of the season. Justina Mayer finished with 43 stops for the Knights.
Potsdam outshot the Neumann 50-25 and were 2-for-7 on the power play. The Knights went 0-for-4 on the man advantage.
The Bears will go for the weekend sweep of Neumann when the teams match up again tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m.
