SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT.—The SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team (4-8-1) scored three third period goals to defeat Nichols College (2-9), 6-4, in the first round of the DoubleTree Ice Hockey Classic on Friday afternoon. Junior forward Amanda Lucky scored two goals, while junior forward Jessica Silveira (1g-2a-3pts), junior assistant captain Jenn Crawford (0-3-3), and sophomore forward Alexandra Holowka (0-3-3) each had three-point nights for the Bears.

Potsdam wasted no time jumping on the Bison. Freshman defenseman Kristen Domanski scored her first career goal with assists from Crawford and Silveira just 3:24 into the contest. The Bears kept the pressure on and doubled their lead at 6:52. Sophomore forward Emilee Hazelden struck to make it 2-0 on helpers from Holowka and Crawford. Potsdam outshot Nichols 10-8 in the opening period and led 2-0 at the break.

At 4:37 of the second period Samantha Vicari finally solved Bears junior goaltender Dawna Salvarinas to cut the gap to 2-1. Grace Murphy knotted the score at two eight minutes later. At 17:52, Silveira scored her first of the year with an assist from sophomore forward Izzy Fayerman to briefly put Potsdam back in front. Just 29 seconds later Tawny Buelow tied the score again and the teams entered the second intermission at 3-3.

The Bears finally broke out in the third period, scoring three goals in a 2:28 span. Lucky scored at 8:33 with assists from Fayerman and Silveira. Less than two minutes later freshman forward Natasha Allen buried her first collegiate goal and the eventual game-winner. Holowka and Crawford recorded the assists. Lucky then capped her night with her second marker at 11:01 on Holowka's third assist. With six and a half minutes remaining, Erin Dice closed the scoring with a final Bison tally, but it was too little too late.

Salvarinas stopped 28 shots to improve her record to 4-2 on the year. Nichols goalie Tori Gianformaggio turned aside 30 Potsdam chances.

The Bison were 0-4 on the power play and the Bears finished 0-2 on the man advantage. The six goals mark Potsdam's biggest offensive outburst of the season.

“It wasn't the most structured game we've played,” said Bears Head Coach Jay Green. “It was more racehorse hockey, up and down. But there was a lot of intensity and I was pleased with the effort. It was nice to see Amanda Lucky get on the board and Sarah Nelson had some chances and controlled the puck well. Jess Silveira played quite well in her first game back and especially since she played on different lines throughout the game. And Dawna Salvarinas was solid for us when we needed her.”

Potsdam is back in action tomorrow afternoon at when the Bears take on host Saint Michael's at 4 p.m. Potsdam tied the Purple Knights 2-2 on Dec. 7 and won a 3-1 victory the following afternoon.