NEWPORT, R.I.—The SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team (0-1) rallied from a 2-0 third period deficit, but fell 3-2 in overtime in its season opener at Salve Regina University (2-0). Freshmen forwards Sarah Nelson and Rachel Grefke each scored their first collegiate goal for Potsdam and junior goalie Dawna Salvarinas (Mississauga, Ontario/Brampton Thunder) finished with 38 saves.

The Seahawks dominated the first period and jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Danielle Phalon opened the scoring on a shot from the slot at 9:32. Cheyenne Boyd recorded the assist. Five minutes later Rachel Porter made it a two-goal game on a one-timer with assists from Sarah Markey and Monika Borkowski. Salve Regina outshot the Bears 13-3 in the opening stanza.

Potsdam outplayed the Seahawks in the second period and killed two penalties. The Bears fired nine shots on Seahawk goalie Ali Muehlbronner, but still trailed 2-0 after 40 minutes.

Grefke finally got the Bears on the board at 6:20 of the third period, beating Muelbronner with a high wrist shot. Sophomore forward Emilee Hazelden and freshman forward Sally Mooney assisted on the goal. Four minutes later Nelson struck to tie the game with assists from freshmen defensemen Kristen Domanski and Katie Marsman. Potsdam was unable to net the decisive marker in regulation.

In overtime, the Bears were called for a checking penalty and the Seahawks fired eight shots on Salvarinas before surrendering the game-winner. Sarah McClusker scored with a high shot just 1:43 into the extra period with an assist from Porter.

Muehlbronner stopped 21 shots to earn the victory. The Seahawks outshot Potsdam 41-23. The Bears were 0-1 on the man-advantage and Salve Regina was 1-9.

“We came out sluggish, but as the game wore on we gained momentum,” said Potsdam Head Coach Jay Green. “We had a great third period to tie it up. It wasn't a great outing overall, but the last five minutes was the team of old that we saw last year. We have a lot of small details to improve upon. If we had played better start to finish we could have had a better outcome. “

The Bears look to bounce back tomorrow afternoon at Division I Holy Cross. The puck drops at 1 p.m.