POTSDAM, N.Y. -- The SUNY Potsdam women's soccer team concluded its 2010 season Wednesday with a 3-1 loss against St. Lawrence in a non-conference showdown at Maxcy Hall Turf Field.

By finishing with a 10-10 record, the Bears have an outside chance at qualifying for the ECAC Tournament. The team will wait for the announcement of the tournament field, which will come some time in the next two weeks.

Potsdam played evenly with St. Lawrence until the 59th minute, when the Saints' Brooke Hessney found the back of the net on an awkward-looking play. A high throw-in by Elena Rogers bounced over the head of a pair of Bears defenders and was knocked around until Hessney eventually tapped it in. The Saints added another goal less than 10 minutes later.

Potsdam halved the deficit in the 70th minute, when junior Jess Mehm (Schroon Lake, N.Y.) played a ball through to sophomore Heather Johnson (Heuvelton, N.Y.). Johnson took the pass and easily beat the keeper in front of the net. However, St. Lawrence (11-7) struck again in the 78th to push the margin back to two.

"We changed to a more attacking formation when we went down 2-0, and had some great passing and movement," Potsdam coach Tim Moody said. "Heather's goal had the feel of a game-winner, because we felt we could get something

The Bears pressured the St. Lawrence defense and had chances throughout the game, but were unable to convert.

In the first half, the Bears had an early chance to score when a ball was played over the top of senior Cortney Poirier (Moira, N.Y.). The forward was able to take one dribble and get a shot off before she was met by the SLU goalkeeper, who deflected the ball away. Minutes later, sophomore goalkeeper Kim Callahan saved a penalty kick to keep the Saints off the board.

"We've competed and been in games against good teams all year, but haven't converted early chances to get ahead," Moody said. "It would have been nice to be up at half, but we were confident about winning it in the second."

Callahan (Centereach, N.Y.) finished with six saves.

Prior to the match, Poirier and fellow senior Kelsey Butz (Schenectady, N.Y.), along with Mehm and junior Kathleen Frear (Scotia, N.Y.), were recognized for their achievements as part of the Potsdam women's soccer program. Frear and Mehm will graduate a year early.

"I'm so proud of our graduating players and everyone else," Moody said. "No one let themselves down. I'd like to thank everyone in our program from the players and

coaches to the athletic training, game management and sports information staffs."

With more games possibly to come, the Bears have already set a school record with 10 overall wins. During the season, Moody broke the record for most wins by a head coach in program history.