The SUNY Potsdam women’s hockey team closed out the 2010-11 season Sunday with a hard-fought 6-4 victory at Chatham in an Eastern College Athletic Conference West match-up in Pittsburgh, Pa.

With the victory, the Bears (10-13-2 overall, 6-11-1 ECAC West) set a school record for overall wins in the program’s third season as an NCAA Division III member. The team did not qualify for the ECAC West Playoffs.

“We fell short of our (season) goals but were more competitive overall and improved statistically in almost every area,” Potsdam coach Jay Green said. “Now we’ll just get ready to go for next year.”

Potsdam took a 6-1 lead into the third period and hung on despite being whistled for 10 penalties in the final frame. Chatham (0-18, 0-18) was called for just eight penalties in the game compared to 18 for the Bears.

Freshman Emma Smetaniuk (Frankford, Ontario) posted three points for Potsdam, scoring the first two goals of the game. Playing in her final collegiate contest, senior Courtney Laughlin (Gambrills, Md.) scored what proved to be the game-winning tally just over 13 minutes into the second period.

Freshman Jessica Silveira (Brampton, Ontario) also recorded three points (1-2-3) in the contest, while classmates Jenn Crawford (Burlington, Ontario) and Brittany Lucky (Kanata, Ontario) registered one goal and one assist each.

“It was a solid effort,” Green said. “I didn’t think we deserved our 18 penalties … we weren’t playing chippy or out of line, but that’s how it goes sometimes. The line of Emma Smetaniuk, Jessica Silveira and Jenn Crawford played very well. I also thought (junior) Annmarie Lewis played very well on the penalty kill.”

Sophomore goaltender Jen Conophy (Glenmont, N.Y.) saved 40 shots, including 21 in the third period, to record her seventh win of the year.