POTSDAM, N.Y.—Utica College (3-2) outlasted the SUNY Potsdam women's lacrosse team (3-2) 8-7 in an overtime thriller on Saturday afternoon. The teams traded leads that were never bigger than two goals and hit three posts each. Junior attack Murphy Newman (Canton, N.Y./Berkshire School) led the Bears with three goals and an assist and senior midfielder Bri McClusky (Watertown, N.Y./Immaculate Heart) added two assists. Pioneer junior midfielder Rebecca Plunkett (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) had a game-high five goals, including the game-winner.

Newman opened the scoring just 1:29 into the contest with a free-position tally. Utica tied it up at 25:04 as sophomore attack Brooke Miller (Rome, N.Y./Rome Free Academy) finished a pass from freshman midfielder Katlyn Scarpinella (South Setauket, N.Y./Ward Melville). McClusky set up junior midfielder Michaela Cole (Parishville, N.Y./Parishville-Hopkinton) 19 seconds later to put Potsdam back up 2-1. With less than 20 minutes to go in the half, Scarpinella rang the first post of the game. Plunkett made up for the near miss with consecutive tallies at 14:23 and 13:18, the second on an assist from Miller. A minute later, Newman hit the post with a shot, but junior midfielder Katie Lapinski (Canton, N.Y./Hugh C. Williams) tied the game at 3-3 with her sixth of the season at 11:13. Plunkett countered with a free-position goal nearly four minutes later, but Cole set up junior midfielder Alyssa Ferenczy (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville South) and Newman notched her second and the Bears led 5-4 with 7:51 left. Utica junior attack Sarah Hennessey (East Syracuse, N.Y./East Syracuse-Minoa) evened the contest again at 7:13 with an assist from junior defender Maggie Notter (Clifton Springs, N.Y./Midlakes). The game appeared to be headed into the break tied, but Newman set up senior midfielder Maggie McCabe (Camillus, N.Y./West Genesee) with 11 seconds on the clock to give Potsdam a 6-5 lead.

Just over four minutes into the second half, Newman hit the post, but made up for it with a man-up goal at 23:52. McClusky assisted on the play. The 7-5 advantage was the biggest of the game for either team. Plunkett closed the gap to one with another helper from Miller at 22:39. Utica midfielder Courtney Wheeler (Ava, N.Y./Rome Free Academy) tied the game at seven all at 18:56. The Pioneers generated good pressure in the second half, but were frustrated by Bears junior goalie Devan Olschewske (Canandaigua, N.Y./Canandaigua), who made eight of her 13 stops in the second half, including three on free-position shots. Wheeler hit the post at 15:40 and Hennessey grazed the crossbar at 13:53. With 7:09 to play, Scarpinella appeared to give Utica an 8-7 lead in a man-up opportunity, but the goal was disallowed for an illegal crosse. After a Pioneer yellow card, Potsdam went on its second man-advantage of the contest. Ferenczy was awarded a free position 46 seconds later, but Pioneers senior goalie Kells Casey (Sandwich, Mass./Kimball Union Academy) made her biggest save of the game. The Bears had two more shots in the final minute of regulation, but couldn't net the decisive score.

Wheeler picked up the opening draw in overtime and was stonewalled by Olshewske at 5:11. Casey stopped a shot off the stick of McClusky just over a minute later. McClusky got her own rebound and fed Ferenczy out front. Her shot hit the right post and Utica cleared the zone. With just nine seconds to play before the mid-overtime period break, Plunkett scored with a low shot from the left side of the goal.

Casey finished with nine saves to earn the victory. The Pioneers outshot the Bears 32-23 and picked up 31 ground balls to Potsdam's 22. However, the Bears edged Utica 9-8 on draw controls thanks to five from McCabe and three from freshman midfielder Cayla O'Connor (Dexter, N.Y./General Brown).

The Bears are now off until Tuesday, March 29, when they travel to Canton for a 4 p.m. showdown with St. Lawrence University).