POTSDAM, N.Y. – The SUNY Potsdam women’s hockey team suffered its first setback of the season, falling 5-3 to Buffalo State in Eastern College Athletic Conference West play at Maxcy Hall.

Buffalo State (2-4 overall, 1-3 ECAC West) scored four unanswered goals, including two in a one-minute span, after the Bears took a one-goal advantage midway through the second period. The third goal in the run came in a short-handed situation and gave the Bengals momentum heading into the break.

“In terms of work ethic, it was always on the border of them outworking us, and eventually their work ethic went ahead of ours,” Potsdam coach Jay Green said. “They went hard to the net and got goals as a result.”

Potsdam (1-1, 1-1) narrowed the deficit to 5-3 at the 8:01 mark of the third period with a goal by freshman Jessica Silveira (Brampton, Ontario), but the brief rally wasn’t enough to overcome Buffalo State’s commanding lead.

The Bengals opened the scoring in the first period for the second straight day. Moments after the Bears had killed a power play, Buffalo State’s Lauren Mallo put a rebound past Potsdam goaltender Dawna Salvarinas (Mississauga, Ontario) with 4:37 to play.

The Bears retaliated just over two minutes later, when junior Stephanie Simons (Stratford, Ontario) tallied her first goal of the season, putting a loose puck into the back of the net at the 1:58 mark.

Taking advantage of a power play, Potsdam took a 2-1 lead with just under nine minutes left in the second period when junior Breanna Roy (Orleans, Ontario) took a pass just inside the blue line and sent a shot past the screened Bengals goaltender. Juniors Annmarie Lewis (Newmarket, Ontario) and Caitlin Manahan (St. Albans, Vt.) posted assists on the play.

“We tried to be a puck-controlling team,” Green said. “I see thinking going on there, I see people getting to the right spots, but the decision-making isn’t keeping up with pass outlet opportunities, for example.”

With 6:12 on the clock in the second, Buffalo State used its own power play opportunity and tied the game on a goal from Alanna McMullen, starting the Bengals’ three-goal onslaught in the final seven minutes of the second period.

In her first start of the year, Salvarinas finished with 41 saves for Potsdam, which was outshot 46-31 in the contest.

While Green isn’t necessarily happy with a split, he is pleased with the progress of the team on its opening weekend of regular season play.

“I’m happy with the foundation, but it’s disappointing we didn’t end up taking three or four points out of the weekend,” Green said.

Potsdam returns to ECAC West play next Friday and Saturday, Nov. 19-20, for a two-game series at RIT. Game time on Friday is set for 7 p.m. in Rochester, N.Y. Saturday’s contest will begin at 3 p.m.