Utica 3, Potsdam 3 - (OT) - Box Score

Potsdam, NY (1-21-12) – The Utica College women's hockey team jumped out to an early 3-1 lead in the first period of play, but host Potsdam State stayed the course, netting two goals in the final two periods to earn a 3-3 tie in ECAC Women's West Conference play Saturday afternoon. 

The Pioneers moved their record to 6-8-1 overall and 3-5-1 in conference play, while the Bears worked hard for the tie and their record is now 7-7-2 overall and 4-7-2 in ECAC West action. 

3:04 into the first period, UC scored a short-handed goal off the stick of Carmen Johnson (Falls Church, VA/Washington Pride) to take an early 1-0 advantage. 1:32 later, the Pioneers gained a 2-0 advantage after a goal from leading scorer Megan Myers (Las Vegas, NV/LA Selects) at the 4:36 marker. Myers finished the day with a team-best two points. 

Potsdam would respond less than four minutes later on the power-play as senior Breanna Roy beat Utica goalie Jennifer Hamel (Ithaca, NY/Northwood School) with a shot from the point to cut UC's lead in half. The Bears held a 13-10 advantage in shots in the first period, but the Pioneers made the most of their opportunities. Utica stormed back and scored with just over two minutes remaining in the period to go into the first intermission with a 3-1 advantage.

The defenses tightened in the second period. Again, the Bears held the advantage in shots, 11-9. Potsdam was particularly stout, killing three penalties in the period and sophomore goalie Jen Conophy stopped every shot of the stanza. The Bears would strike at the 13:54 mark on great passing by freshman Emilee Hazelden and Roy who fed junior Katie Komsa to cut the deficit 3-2. The period ended with two Bears in the penalty box and Utica on a 5-on-3 power-play.

After successfully killing both penalties, the Bears would tie the game at 3-3 at the 13:38 mark. Lucky fed Lewis who broke away from the defense and beat Hamel for her eighth goal of the season. Neither team could break through in the remaining 13 minutes so the game headed into overtime.

In the extra period, Utica managed four shots to Potsdam's two with no attempt beating either goalie. For the game, Conophy finished with 32 saves and Hamel finished with 30. The Bears capitalized on 1-of-5 power-play opportunities while holding the Pioneers to an 0-for-5 showing.

The Pioneers return to action tomorrow as they have a rematch with the Bears at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. The puck will drop at 4 p.m.

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