POTSDAM, N.Y.—Everything seemed to take a bit longer for the SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team (9-6-3, 5-3-3 ECAC West) on Saturday afternoon. The Bears overcame an hour and 15 minute delay due to missing officials, a fire alarm during play in the second period and a 3-2 deficit with 30 seconds left. ECAC Rookie of the Week Jordan Ott (Hilton, N.Y./Rochester Edge) tied the game in the final minute and won it with another goal just 31 seconds into overtime as Potsdam downed Chatham University (3-12-2, 2-8) 4-3 at Maxcy Ice Arena. Freshman forward Amanda Peterson (West Chazy, N.Y./Chazy Flyers) and senior forward Jessica Silveira (Brampton, Ontario/Brampton Thunder) scored the other goals for the Bears. The victory moves Potsdam into a tie for 3rd place with Oswego in the ECAC West.

Once the contest was finally underway, the Cougars scored their first goal of the weekend. Senior forward Casey Morfeld (Union City, Calif./San Jose Jr. Sharks) took the puck in alone and fired. Potsdam sophomore goalie Alexane Rodrigue (Monkland, Ontario/Bemidji State) made the save, but Morfield poked her rebound between Rodrigue's pads for a 1-0 lead at the 6:10 mark. Potsdam answered six minutes later as Peterson slammed home a rebound off a shot from junior captain Izzy Fayerman (Calgary, Alberta/The Edge). The Bears picked up their play after the goal, but the score was tied 1-1 after one period despite a 17-7 Potsdam advantage in shots.

A false fire alarm went off early in the second period and the play was allowed to continue as the alarm blared and lights flashed overhead. While all that was happening Silveira tapped home a pass from Ott to give the Bears their last lead of regulation. Freshman defenseman Alyssa Brockmann (Fairport, N.Y./Rochester Edge) recorded the second assist on the play. As they had all game, Potsdam continued to outshoot the Cougars, but couldn't score. At the 11:08 mark, Chatham sophomore forward Katrina Hawkins (Powell River, British Columbia/Brooks Secondary School) tied the game with a wrist shot to the left of a screened Rodrigue. Just 27 seconds later, freshman forward Brianna Rice (Newmarket, Ontario/Willowdale Red Wings) carried the puck into the Potsdam zone, went behind the net and fired another wrister between Rodrigue and the left post to regain the Cougar lead. After the goal, Bears head coach Jay Green called timeout and replaced Rodrigue with freshman goalie Abby Tardelli (Potsdam, N.Y./North Country Ice Storm). The change sparked the Bears and Tardelli only saw one shot during the remainder of the middle period. Potsdam outshot Chatham 17-6 in the middle stanza, but still trailed 3-2 after 40 minutes.

The Bears continued to pepper Cougar junior goalie Megan Buchanan (Ottawa, Ontario/Rideau St. Lawrence) in the third, but Buchanan frustrated them over and over. Tardelli saw six shots in the final period, including two strong scoring chances, but kept the Cougars off the board. Chatham excelled at keeping Potsdam off balance and not allowing second chance opportunities, but the Bears kept coming. With one minute left, Tardelli was pulled for an extra attacker and Potsdam increased the pressure. With 30 seconds left, Ott blasted a slapshot from the right point. Buchanan got a piece of the puck, but it slipped between her glove and left pad and trickled over the goal line. Senior captain Brittany Lucky (Kanata, Ontario/Ottawa Senators) and Silveira assisted on the play.

Ott then ended the contest just 31 seconds later in overtime. After a faceoff, Brittany Lucky fired a shot on goal from the right point and Ott ripped home the rebound to send everyone home. Lucky and Silveira also assisted on the game-winner.

Buchanan finished with 47 saves as the Bears outshot the Cougars 51-19. Tardelli earned her first conference win, stopping all seven shots she faced in the final 28:26. Rodrigue made nine saves in the opening 31:35. Both teams were 0-2 on the power play.

With the win Potsdam is 3-0-1 in its last four games and 9-2-2 in its last 13. Jessica Silveira has now scored a goal in each of the Bears' last five games.

Potsdam is back in action next Saturday night when the travel to Plattsburgh State to take on the top-ranked and undefeated Cardinals at 7 p.m.