POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam women's soccer team (1-0-1) got a late goal from junior midfielder Karley Cree (Akwesasne, N.Y./Salmon River) to down Alfred State (0-2) 1-0 in the second round of the 2014 Potsdam College Cup. New England College (2-0) blanked Alfred University (0-1-1) 3-0 in the first game of the day to capture the tournament title. Kree and junior midfielder Jess Sterns (Henrietta, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta) earned spots on the all-tournament team for the Bears, while NEC sophomore forward Jess Dowson (Winthrop, Mass./Winthrop) was named tournament Most Valuable player.

Playing in the driving rain, Potsdam and the Pioneers got off to a slow start. As they adjusted to the wet conditions, the Bears picked up momentum. They outshot Alfred State 9-5 in the opening 45 minutes, though each team created a few quality offensive chances. However, goals continued to be tough to come by and the contest was scoreless at the break.

Freshman striker Jaci Morr (Monroe, Mich./Monroe) created some opportunities early in the second half. She was robbed on a point blank attempt at the 38-minute mark and then again on a shot from the top of the box two minutes later. Potsdam outshot the Pioneers 11-6 in the second half, but it looked like the Bears were heading back to overtime. However, junior All-SUNYAC defender Chloe Hay (Burnt Hills, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) fed Cree. She then ripped a shot off of the fingers of Alfred State freshman goalie Morgan Schreiner (Spencerport, N.Y./Spencerport) and into the top of the net at the 86:10 mark. The Bears defense kept the Pioneers from threatening again as time expired.

Potsdam closed the contest with a 20-11 advantage on shots and even with Alfred State on corner kicks at six apiece.

In goal, junior Emily Lapage (Brushton, N.Y./Brushton-Moira) stopped six shots to win in her Bears debut. Shreiner played the second half for the Pioneers, stopping three shots and getting tagged with the loss. Freshman goalie Allison Danielak (Hamlin, N.Y./Brockport) stopped all seven shots she faced in the first half for Alfred State.

In the first game of the day, the Pilgrims started off quickly as they had the day before. In the 17th minute, Dowson carried the ball to the left side of the Saxons goal and sent a perfect cross to senior midfielder Katie Hatch (Old Orchard Beach, Maine/Old Orchard Beach), who drove it home. Nearly 10 minutes later, Hatch struck again, finishing a long pass from freshman forward Jaycie Triandafilou (Newburyport, Mass./Newburyport), to double the lead. Alfred was unable to create much pressure throughout the contest. In the 81st minute, Pilgrim senior forward Rachel Thomas (Raleigh, N.C./West Johnston) fed senior forward Kaylee Thrasher (Candia, N.H./Central) who fired a rocket past Saxon freshman keeper Sammy Jo Shanahan (Valley Stream, N.Y./Valley Stream South) to put the contest away.

The Pilgrims outshot the Saxons 19-3 on the afternoon and also finished with a 6-1 edge in corner kicks. Shanahan played well, stopping nine shots in a losing cause. New England sophomore goalie Mackenzie Meegan (Phoenix, Ariz./Desert Vista) picked up the win with just two saves in the first 71:54.

The Bears are back in action next Saturday, Sept. 6, as they host the Sage Gators at 1 p.m.

All-Tournament Team

New England College – Jess Dowson – F –Most Valuable Player

New England College – Katie Hatch – M

Alfred University – Sammy Jo Shanahan – G

Alfred University – Lauren Wyant (Jasper, N.Y./Jasper-Troupsburg) – M

Alfred State – Danielle Richardson (Hornell, N.Y./Hornell) – D

Alfred State – Carissa Plesums (Warsaw, N.Y./Warsaw) – D

SUNY Potsdam – Jess Sterns (Henrietta, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta) – M

SUNY Potsdam – Karley Cree (Akwesasne, N.Y./Salmon River) – M