Third-period outburst lifts Bears over Panthers

            RUTLAND, Vt. –The SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team scored three third-period goals Friday afternoon to defeat Plymouth State University, 4-1, in the first round of the Rutland Herald Invitational, hosted by Castleton State College.

            Freshman Jessica Silveira (Brampton, Ontario) scored two goals, including the game-winner, to lead the Bears (4-7) to their third straight victory.  Freshman defenseman Stephanie Newmark (Sydney, Australia) tallied her first career goal for PSU, but the Panthers dropped to 0-11-1.

            Both teams went scoreless in the first period and most of the second before sophomore Brittany Westlake (Georgetown, Ontario) broke through for Potsdam with her first of the season at the 17:27 mark. The Panthers tied the game with just 33 seconds left in the period on Newmark's goal.  The Bears had the advantage in shots in the first period, 12-5, but PSU had more shots in the second frame, 13-11.

            The Bears put the game away with three goals in a six-minute span of the final stanza.  Silveria broke the tie at the 10:27 mark, and junior Caitlin Manahan (St. Albans, Vt.) made it a 3-1 Potsdam lead at 15:17. Silveira iced the game with her second goal at 16:40.

            Potsdam finished with a 34-23 margin in shots on goal.  Sophomore goaltender Jen Conophy (Glenmont, N.Y.) made 22 saves for the win, while Plymouth State freshman Ali Ponte (Richmond Hill, Ont.) stopped 30 shots.

            PSU will play in the third-place game Saturday at 1:00 p.m. against Castleton after the host Spartans fell to Buffalo State in the second game, 3-2.  PSU and Castleton tied earlier this season, 2-2.  Potsdam meets Buffalo State in the championship game at 4:00 p.m. 

 (Courtesy of Potsdam Sports Information) 

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