Potsdam, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam women’s hockey team (7-9-1, 3-8 ECAC West) scored four times in the third period and defeated the Cortland Red Dragons 6-1 at Clarkson University’s Cheel Arena on Sunday afternoon. Juniors Annmarie Lewis (Newmarket, Ontario/Aurora Panthers) and Breanna Roy (Orleans, Ontario/Nepean Wildcats) each scored two goals for the Bears. Sophomore goaltender Jen Conophy (Glenmont, N.Y./Albany Ice Cats) made 16 saves for the win.

Potsdam started in the same manner as yesterday’s game, scoring on the first shot of the contest. Lewis picked the puck free from a scrum in the corner, skated in front of the net and slid it between the pads of Cortland freshman goalie Sarah Ribarich (Farmingdale, N.Y./N.J. Selects) just 16 seconds into the game. The Bears kept the pressure in the Red Dragon’s zone for much of the period, but Ribarich held them at bay until the 13:35 mark. After a five minute boarding call to Cortland sophomore forward Kellie Micillo (Sayville, N.Y./Suffolk PAL) Roy ripped a slap shot from the slot to extend the lead to 2-0. Freshman forward Emma Smetaniuk (Frankford, Ontario/Whitby Wolves) assisted on the goal. The Bears held a 16-5 shot advantage after the first period.

Potsdam controlled much of the second period as well, but couldn’t add to their lead. The last few minutes saw the Red Dragons build offensive momentum and finally get on the board with just 24 seconds left. Freshman defenseman Gwen Paul (Incline, Nev./San Jose Sharks) fired a shot from the point and freshman forward Jenn Fitzgerald (Phoenix, Ariz./Gilmour Academy) tipped it past Conophy to cut the lead to 2-1. Sophomore defenseman Cara Latchum (Warrington, Pa./Wyoming Seminary) also assisted on the play.

The Bears put the game away in the third period. At the 7:45 mark sophomore defenseman Nadine Cunningham (Bow, N.H./St. Mark’s Prep) set up senior captain Courtney Laughlin (Gambrills, Md./Princeton Tiger Lillies) in front for a wrap around goal. Two minutes later Lewis picked up the puck in Potsdam’s zone and took it the length of the ice for her second of the game and a 4-1 Bear lead. At 13:34 junior forward Caitlin Manahan (St. Albans, Vt./Elmira College) scored on a very similar play. Potsdam capped the scoring with 45 seconds left as Roy notched her second power-play marker. Freshman forward Jessica Silveira (Brampton, Ontario/Brampton Thunder) and junior captain Stephanie Simons each recorded assists.

Ribarich finished with 30 saves for Cortland. Potsdam was 2-4 on the power play and the Red Dragons (2-12-2, 1-7-2) finished 0-4.

During the second intermission Bears Head Coach Jay Green stressed the importance of keeping the pressure on the Red Dragons.

“We were in control territorially and with our opportunities,” said Green of the 2-1 lead after two periods. “These are the scariest games to be a part of especially when you’re not capitalizing on your chances. We told our players after the second period that even though everything was going our way, if we lost our intensity and got sloppy we could have a bad outcome. A credit to our guys, they stuck with it, persevered, and scored four in the last period.”

Potsdam travels to Hamilton College on Tues., Jan. 25, for a nonconference showdown with the Continentals at 7 p.m.