NEWPORT, R.I -- The SUNY Potsdam women’s hockey team (0-1) rallied from a 2-0 third period deficit, but fell 3-2 in overtime in its season opener at Salve Regina University (2-0).

Freshmen forwards Sarah Nelson (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Ottawa Senators) and Rachel Grefke (Livonia, Mich./Victory Honda) each scored their first collegiate goal for Potsdam and junior goalie Dawna Salvarinas (Mississauga, Ontario/Brampton Thunder) finished with 38 saves.

The Seahawks dominated the first period and jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Danielle Phalon opened the scoring on a shot from the slot at 9:32.

Cheyenne Boyd recorded the assist. Five minutes later Rachel Porter made it a two-goal game on a one-timer with assists from Sarah Markey and Monika Borkowski.Salve Regina outshot the Bears 13-3 in the opening stanza. Potsdam outplayed the Seahawks in the second period and killed two penalties. The Bears fired nine shots on Seahawk goalie Ali Muehlbronner, but still trailed 2-0 after 40 minutes.

Grefke finally got the Bears on the board at 6:20 of the third period, beating Muelbronner with a high wrist shot. Sophomore forward Emilee Hazelden (Bloomingdale, N.Y./Northwood School) and freshman forward Sally Mooney (New Albany, Ohio/Wyoming Seminary) assisted on the goal.

Four minutes later Nelson struck to tie the game with assists from freshmen defensemen Kristen Domanski (Brooklin, Ontario/Barrie Sharks) and Katie Marsman (Wantagh, N.Y./Wyoming Seminary).

Potsdam was unable to net the decisive marker in regulation. In overtime, the Bears were called for a checking penalty and the Seahawks fired eight shots on Salvarinas before surrendering the game-winner. Sarah McClusker scored with a high shot just 1:43 into the extra period with an assist from Porter.

Muehlbronner stopped 21 shots to earn the victory. The Seahawks outshot Potsdam 41-23. The Bears were 0-1 on the man-advantage and Salve Regina was 1-9.

“We came out sluggish, but as the game wore on we gained momentum,” said Potsdam Head Coach Jay Green. “We had a great third period to tie it up. It wasn’t a great outing overall, but the last five minutes was the team of old that we saw last year. We have a lot of small details to improve upon. If we had played better start to finish we could have had a better outcome."

The Bears look to bounce back today at Division I Holy Cross. The puck drops at 1 p.m.