POTSDAM, N.Y.—With the temperatures near 90 degrees the SUNY Potsdam women's soccer team (6-2-2, 0-0-1 SUNYAC) and Plattsburgh State (4-3-1, 0-0-1) fought to a 1-1 tie in their SUNYAC opener. Freshman forward Lexi Dean (Schenectady, N.Y./Schenectady) scored for the Bears with an assist from junior midfielder Rylie Murray (Berkley, Mich./Berkley). Potsdam sophomore goalie Delphine Léonard (Montreal, Quebec/Dawson College Prep) made nine saves in the contest.

As expected, defense controlled the game in the early going. Plattsburgh tilted the field toward its offensive zone toward the middle of the half and generated four corner kicks. At 28:41 off a corner, Cardinals sophomore Rachael Moran (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./Arlington) drove a loose ball toward the goal line, where Potsdam freshman defender Maeve Morrissey (Averill Park, N.Y./Averill Park) stopped it. The teams were able to pick up a few more shots as time wound down, but it wasn't until the 42nd minute that Potsdam jumped on top. Murray took control just outside the box and moved it to Dean at her left. Dean then sent a rocket off the crossbar and down into the goal. The Bears took the 1-0 lead into the break.

Both teams hovered around the nets in the opening minutes of the second half, but it was Plattsburgh that was able to get the majority of the chances. Léonard made four stops in the first 12 minutes, but all were fairly routine. At 60:03 Plattsburgh finally got even as Moran connected with senior midfielder Rachael Saccocio (Schenectady, N.Y./Schenectady). Saccocio stepped around a defender and sent the ball into the right corner of the net. The Cardinals held the edge in play as time ticked away before the last five minutes of regulation turned wide open. With just over five minutes remaining, junior midfielder Brooke Falsion (Brockport, N.Y./Brockport) played the ball ahead to senior captain Jaci Morr (Monroe, Mich./Monroe) on the left side. Morr outpaced the defender and fired the ball just over the crossbar. Three minutes later, Plattsburgh created a two-on-one break, but couldn't execute. With 40 seconds on the clock junior forward Olivia Seamans (Bolton Landing, N.Y./Bolton) had a shot blocked and 20 seconds after that, Bears defenders defused a last charge by the Cardinals.

Plattsburgh put the only two shots on Léonard in the first overtime, but she easily handled both.

The most entertaining play was saved for the second overtime. Just 45 seconds in, Falsion rang the crossbar and the right post on a shot. Nearly a minute later senior forward Amber Hyatt (Jamesville, N.Y./Jamesville-DeWitt) rang it again. In the 104th minute, Murray broke free at the right side of the box before being sandwiched between two Cardinals. Potsdam was expecting a call to be made on the play, but one never came. Neither team created another strong attempt over the rest of the extra session as time ran out.

Plattsburgh junior goalkeeper Nichole Gibson (Arkport, N.Y./Arkport) made two saves.

The Bears are back in action next weekend when they travel to Central New York to face SUNY Cortland and Oswego State. Potsdam faces the Red Dragons at 3 p.m. on Friday and the Lakers at 1 p.m. on Saturday.