POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam women's soccer team (8-2, 1-1 SUNYAC) is ranked 10th in this week's United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division III East Region Poll. It marks the first time that the Bears have earned the honor in the program's 32-year history.

The Bears are off to their usual hot start at 8-2 and split their SUNYAC opening weekend, bowing to Geneseo, who is ranked seventh in the poll, 2-0 and defeating Brockport 2-1.

Offensively, Potsdam boasts four of the top six scorers in the conference. Senior midfielder Brooke Falsion (Brockport, N.Y./Brockport) has 10 goals and three assists for 23 points as she leads the SUNYAC in scoring and continues her mission to become the program's all-time leading scorer. Fellow senior midfielder Rylie Murray (Berkley, Mich./Berkley) is second in the conference in points with three goals and eight assists for 14. She already holds the Bears record for career assists. Just 10 games into her collegiate career, freshman forward Mackenzie Bowie (Mechanicville, N.Y./Mechanicville) (3g, 2a) it tied for fifth in the SUNYAC in scoring with sophomore forward Lexi Dean (Schenectady, N.Y./Mohonasen) (4g) with eight points apiece.

Defensively, Potsdam is second in the conference with a 0.80 goals-against-average. Together, sophomore defender Maeve Morrisey (Averill Park, N.Y./Averill Park), senior midfielder Sarah Erno (Mechanicville, N.Y./Mechanicville), junior defender Augusta Hayner (Malta, N.Y./Ballston Spa), senior defender Lauren Vedete (New Hartford, N.Y./New Hartford) and junior midfielder Ciara Norris (Syracuse, N.Y./Jamesville-DeWitt) lead a defense that has routinely stymied opponents this season.

As was also true last year, the Bears have one of the best goalkeeper tandems in the region. Both junior Delphine Léonard (Anjou, Quebec/Dawson College Prep) and sophomore Gabby Hobika (New Hartford, N.Y./New Hartford) are second in the SUNYAC in wins with identical 4-1 records. Léonard also ranks second in the conference in goals-against-average (0.73) and save percentage, while Hobika is seventh in both categories with a 0.89 goals-against and a .795 save percentage.

The Bears continue conference play Saturday when they head to Plattsburgh for a 1 p.m. contest.