Women's Ice Hockey

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HEADLINES


Women's Hockey Games Postponed

2.5.10

Due to inclement weather predicted in the Philadelphia area, this weekend's women's games against Neumann have been postponed. No makeup date has been determined as of yet.

Hitchman Named ECAC West Goaltender of the Week

2.1.10

POTSDAM, NY- Senior goaltender Hilary Hitchman (Potsdam/Oswego State) was named ECAC West Goaltender of the Week for her efforts in last weekend's games.

Hitchman was huge for the Bears this weekend as they picked up two wins over Chatham. She made 28 saves and got her first shutout of the season in a 3-0 win on Saturday and had 35 saves in a 3-1 win on Sunday.

Bears Skate by Cougars

1.31.10

POTSDAM, NY- The women's hockey team scored two third period goals as they defeated visiting Chatham 3-1 on Sunday afternoon at Maxcy Hall Arena. Potsdam record improves to 8-9-1 overall (5-8 in ECAC West).

Following a scoreless first period, Breanna Roy (Orleans, ONT/Nepean Wildcats) scored on the power play 3:42 into the period to give the Bears a 1-0 lead.

Katie Komsa (Sault Ste, Marie, ONT/Sault Ste. Marie AA Midget) would find Stephnaie Simons (Stratford, ONT/Bluewater Hawks) for Potsdam's second goal of the game 4:37 into the second period.  Nadine Cunningham (Bow, NH/St. Mark's Prep) tacked on an unassisted goal just under three mintues later.  Chatham scored less than a minute after that to prevent the Bears second shutout in a row.

Hilary Hitchman (Potsdam/Oswego State) had the start in goal and made 35 saves for the Bears.  Brenn Scott made 34 saves for the Cougars.

The Bears next host Hamilton on Tuesday night at 7 pm.

Women Shutout Chatham

1.30.10

POTSDAM, NY- The SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team held visiting Chatham scoreless as they won 3-0 on Saturday afternoon at Maxcy Hall Arena. With the win, the Bears improve their record to 7-9-1 (4-8 in ECAC West).

Following a scoreless first period, Stephanie Malcolm (Hamilton, ONT/Hamilton Hawks) found Stephanie Simons (Stratford, ONT/Bluewater Hawks) for there sixth goal of the season just 1:23 into the second period to give the Bears the lead.

The Bears tacked on two more goals for good measure in the third period with one by Breanna Roy (Orleans, ONT/Nepean Wildcats) and one from Nadine Cunningham (Bow, NH/St. Mark's Prep).

Hilary Hitchman (Potsdam/Oswego State) made 28 saves in goal for Potsdam.  Brenn Scott had 29 saves for Chatham.

The Bears held a slight advantage in shots leading 32-28.

Both teams play tomorrow afternoon at 1 pm.

Women Defeat Cortland

1.15.10

POTSDAM, NY- The SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team scored three third period goals as they defeated the visiting Cortland Red Dragons 4-1 on Friday night at Maxcy Hall Arena. With the win, the Bears improve their record to 6-6-1 (3-5 ECAC West) while Cortland is now 3-10 overall (2-5 in ECAC West).

Following a scoreless first period, the Bears struck first when Kristine Faffley scored unassisted just 1:50 into the period.  The Red Dragons tied it later on. 

Stephanie Simons (Stratford, ONT/Bluewater Hawks) opened the scoring in the third period on another unassisted goal.  She and Breanna Roy (Orleans, ONT/Nepean Wildcats) later assisted on Stephanie Malcolm's (Hamilton, ONT/Hamilton Hawks) goal and both Malcolm and Simons teamed up to assist Annmarie Lewis (Newmarket, ONT/Aurora Panthers) on her team leading eighth goal of the season.

Hilary Hitchman (Potsdam/Oswego State) started for the Bears in goal and made 15 saves.  Katie Double had 15 saves for Cortland.

Bears Win Rutland-Herald Invitational

1.10.10

RUTLAND, VT- Annmarie Lewis (Newmarket, ONT/Aurora Panthers) scored twice in the second period as the SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team defeated Oswego 2-1 to win the Rutland-Herald Invitational on Sunday afternoon.  With the win, the Bears improve their record to 5-6-1.

The game was scoreless after the first period.  Lewis opened up the scoring for the Bears in the second with a beautiful power-play goal at 12:09 for a 1-0 lead. Breanna Roy (Orleans, ONT/Nepean Wildcats) blasted a slapshot from the top of the point that Lewis knocked out of midair behind Oswego goaltender Emi Williams.

Lewis, Roy and Stephanie Simons (Stratford, ONT/Bluewater Hawks) connected again late in the period in identical fashion to give the Bears the lead at 2-0. At 19:15 on the power-play, Simons cycled the puck to Roy just above the left face-off ring. Roy unleashed a slapshot from the point that Lewis redirected past Williams for her team-leading seventh goal.

The Lakers cut the deficit in half, 2-1, late in the third at 14:24.

Oswego made several rallies late in the third but Potsdam goaltender Jen Conophy (Glenmont/Albany Ice Cats) held off the Lakers from evening the score. She made an outstanding glove save on Laker forward Jillian Bergeron who had a wide-open breakaway scoring chance at 2:44 and also helped kill off a 5-on-3 power-play situation with just under 1:30 left to play to give the Bears the win.

Conophy made 31 saves for the Bears. Williams had 25 saves for the Lakers.

Conophy, Lewis, and Roy were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Potsdam returns to action at home on Friday night against Cortland at 7 pm.

Women Advance in Shootout

1.09.10

RUTLAND, VT- Behind stellar goaltending, the SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team defeated Adrian College in a shootout in the Rutland-Herald Invitational hosted by Castleton College on Saturday night.

Adrian opened the scoring at 6:15 in the first period.

The Bears tied the game in the second period when they capitalized on a 5-on-3 power-play at 11:35. Just above the left face-off circle, Breanna Roy (Orleans, ONT/Nepean Wildca) ripped a slapshot that was redirected in front of the net by teammate Stephanie Simons (Stratford, ONT/Bluewater Hawks) behind Bulldogs' goaltender Dana Timm (Southgate, MI) for her fourth goal of the season.

Midway through the third period, Adrian went ahead 2-1 at 10:34. With a penalty charged to Adrian, Potsdam called a timeout before the power-play and it paid dividends as Katie Komsa (Sault Ste. Marie,ONT/ Sault Ste. Marie AA Midget) scored the game-tying goal at 16:37 banging home a loose puck in front of the net.

The Bulldogs forced the shootout behind the superb play of Jen Conophy (Glenmont/Albany Ice Cats) who in the overtime period helped killed off two power-plays including a 5-on-3 situation.

Nicky Bougie (Ingelside, ONT/Cornwall Typhoons) and Annmarie Lewis (Newmarket, ONT/Aurora Panthers) both scored goals in the shootout while Conophy made four out of five saves.

Conophy made 57 saves for the Bears.  Dana Timm had 20 saves for Adrian.

Potsdam will play fellow ECAC West rival Oswego tomorrow in the championship round at 3:00 p.m. The teams met last year in the final with the Lakers prevailing in that game 2-1.

Lewis' OT Goal Lifts Bears Over Bengals

12.11.09

POTSDAM, NY- Annmarie Lewis (Newmarket, ONT/Aurora Panthers) scored with 12.5 seconds left in overtime to give the women's hockey team a 3-2 victory over Buffalo State on Friday night. The win improves the Bears record to 4-5 overall (2-4 in ECAC West)

Following a scoreless first period, the Bengals got on the board in the second period when Leah Knott slid the puck past Potsdam's Hilary Hitchman (Potsdam/Oswego State).  Lewis scored with 24.2 seconds left in the period when Katie Komsa (Sault Ste. Marie, ONT/Hamilton Hawks) found her in front of the goal to tie the game 1-1.

Buffalo State would take back the lead just past the midway point of the third period.  The Bears would tie the game with 2:47 left on a Kristine Faffley (Westmoreland/U-Mass Boston) goal.  The Bengals were on the power play the final 1:42 but the Bears killed it to force overtime.

The game looked like it would end in a tie until the Bengals committed a body checking penalty which put the Bears on the power play with 20 seconds left in the overtime period.  Potsdam would not waste the opportunity as Lewis put the game away 7.5 seconds later.

Hitchman had 30 saves in goal for the Bears.  Alyssa Koniar made 31 saves for the Bengals.

The two teams were nearly even in shots with Potsdam holding a slight 34-32 advantage.  The Bears were effective on the power play in going 2-for-5.

Both teams play again tomorrow at 3 pm.

Roy's Two Goals Leads Bears Over Pioneers

11.14.09

POTSDAM, NY- Breanna Roy (Orleans, ONT/Nepean Wildcats) had two goals as the women's hockey team scored three times in the third period en route to a 6-3 victory over visiting Sacred Heart on Saturday afternoon at Maxcy Hall Arena.  With the win, the Bears improve their record to 3-2 on the season.

The Bears got out to the early lead when Amanda King (Akwesasne/Cornwall Typhoons) scored in traffic in front of the goal for the score.  A few minutes later, Stephanie Malcolm's (Hamilton, ONT/Hamilton Hawks) shot was tipped into the goal by Stephanie Simons (Stratford, ONT/Bluewater Hawks) to give the Bears a 2-0 lead.  Sacred Heart would score their first of the game to make 2-1 Potsdam after the first period.

Roy's unassisted goal two minutes into the second period gave back the Bears their two goal lead.  The Pioneers would respond with back-to-back goals to even the game at 3-3 going into the final period.

Early in the third period, Roy knocked out a Pioneer shot to prevent a score. She nearly scored her second of the game seconds later but hit the post instead.  Sacred Heart later was issued a bench penalty and the Bears immediately took advantage as Roy scored three seconds into the power play off the face-off to put Potsdam ahead for good.  Under a minute after her goal, Nicky Bougie (Ingelside, ONT/Cornwall Typhoons) went top shelf to make it 5-3 Potsdam.  Annmarie Lewis (Newmarket, ONT/Aurora Panthers) would add an empty net goal with 1:06 to play as the Bears clinched the victory.

Jen Conophy (Glenmont/Albany Ice Cats) started in goal and had 19 saves for the Bears.  Hilary Hitchman (Potsdam/Oswego State) came in the third period and shut out the Pioneers with 17 saves.  Raelene Sydor had 19 saves for Sacred Heart.

Sacred Heart led in shots 39-25.  The Bears were effective on the power play as they went 3-for7.  The six goals scored by Potsdam were the most in a game since returning to varsity play last season.

The Bears head on the road to take on RIT next Friday at 3 pm.

Bears Defeat Lakers

11.8.09

POTSDAM, NY- The women's hockey team fell behind in the second period but came back to defeat visiting Oswego 3-1 on Sunday afternoon at Maxcy Hall Arena.

The game was scoreless after the first period.  The Lakers scored just 1:40 into the second period to take the lead. Later in the period, Stephanie Malcolm (Hamilton, ONT/Hamilton Hawks) took a shot that bounced off the pipe.  Breanna Roy (Orleans, ONT/Nepean Wildcats) would tie the game on an assist from Stephanie Simons (Stratford, ONT/Bluewater Hawks).  The Bears would then go ahead when Kelli McBurnie's (Parishville/Potsdam Ice Storm) shot slid past Oswego goaltender Emi Williams for the goal.

Malcolm got the third goal of the game in the third period when her shot deflected off an Oswego defender for the score.  The Lakers had a power play with just over 22 seconds left to play, but Emily Grippin's shot hit the post as the Bears held on for the victory.

Hilary Hitchman (Potsdam/Oswego State) was stellar in goal as she stopped 27 shots.  Williams had 25 saves for the Lakers.

The teams were even in shots with 28.

The Bears (2-1) host Sacred Heart next weekend for two games. Friday's game is at 7 pm while Saturday's game is at 2 pm.

Bears Hold on for First Victory of the Season

10.31.09

POTSDAM, NY- Backed by superb goaltending and timely penalty killing, the SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team skated to a 2-1 season opening victory over the visiting Salve Regina Seahawks on Saturday afternoon.

Following a scoreless first period, the Bears scored a short-handed goal on the faceoff by Stephanie Dwyer (Stittsville, ONT/Kanata AA Midget) to go up 1-0.  The Seahawks would answer later in the period to tie the game.

Potsdam would quickly get ahead 21 seconds into the third period when Stephanie Simons (Stratford, ONT/Bluewater Hawks) put the Bears up 2-1. 

The Bears were effective on the penalty kill as Salve Regina went 0-for-13. The Bears were faced with a five on three at one point in the third period but managed to hold off the Seahawk threat.

Jen Conophy (Glenmont/Albany Ice Cats) started in goal and made 11 saves. Hilary Hitchman (Potsdam/Oswego State) came in the second period and had 23 saves.  Rebecca Simmons had 22 saves for the Seahawks.

The Bears host Oswego next Saturday and Sunday at 3 pm.



Bears 2009-10 Season Preview

10.26.09

The women's hockey team begins their second season of varsity play under the guidance of returning coach Jay Green. Last season, the Bears concluded their inaugural season with a record of 4-17-2 (3-13-2 in ECAC West).

16 players return from last year's team. Co-Captains for this year are junior forward Courtney Laughlin and sophomore forward Stephanie Simons.  They are joined by alternate captains sophomores defender Monique Ganger and forward Annmarie Lewis.   Lewis was the Bears second highest scorer last year with 15 points (7G, 8A).

Also looked upon to add some scoring is sophomore defender Breanna Roy. She led the team in points last year with 16 (6G, 10A).

In goal the Bears will be led by senior Hillary Hitchman (733 saves, .899 SV %). She will be backed up by freshman Jen Conophy.   

Key newcomers to the team include forward Katie Komsa and defenseman Brittany Westlake.  "Katie has good size and solid skills and will look to give us some offensive scoring," noted Green.  "Brittany is a solid defenseman and adds skills and depth to the lineup."

Green's goal for the team this season is to compete for a playoff spot.  "What myself and assistant coach Farren Hart stress to each player is that every conference game is important and they realize that. This season we expect everyone on the team to be ready to play for every game," Green said.

The Bears played the Nepean Wildcats in an exhibition last Wednesday and fell 6-1.  They will open their regular season at home against Salve Regina on Saturday at 3 pm.


Laughlin and Hitchman Named ECAC All-Academics

4.12.09

(POTSDAM, NY) Two SUNY Potsdam hockey players were recently recognized by the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) for their academic achievements. Honored by ECAC Commissioner Rudy Keeling were Bears Courtney Laughlin (Grambills, MD/Princeton Tiger Lilies) and Hilary Hitchman (Potsdam/ Oswego State).

The Potsdam players were named to the ECAC Women's West All-Academic team for the 2008-09 season. This marks the eighth year that the conference has named an All-Academic team; a total of 57 student-athletes representing nine ECAC Women's West teams earned this honor based on outstanding performance in the classroom.

To be named to the All-Academic team, the student-athlete must have completed at least one academic year, have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 scale, and have competed in at least one-half of her team's contests during the current season.