Potsdam, NY (Oct. 31, 2025) - Alvernia Women's Ice Hockey (1-0-0) opened its 2025-26 campaign with a 2-1 overtime win over SUNY Potsdam (0-1-0) on Friday night in non-conference women's ice hockey action at Potsdam.

With the game tied at 1-1, the Golden Wolves and Bears moved into an overtime period. Alvernia had a power-play opportunity midway through overtime, but could not convert. Then, with 23 seconds remaining, Emma Hart fired the puck into net to call game.

Friday night marked the first ever meeting between the two programs.

How it Happened

• The Bears peppered Alvernia in the opening minutes of the game, outshooting the Golden Wolves 6-2 through the first five minutes. 
• The Golden Wolves had the first power-play opportunity of the game seven minutes into the first period. Alvernia sent in four shots during the two minute power-play, but two attempts were blocked and the other two went off target.
• The Golden Wolves and Bears continued to trade opportunities until Alvernia had two penalties called on it in under a minute, allowing the Bears to go on a 5v3 opportunity. Potsdam took advantage and scored with six minutes to play in the opening frame to take a 1-0 lead. Potsdam continued to hold the 1-0 lead into the second period.
• The Bears pressured for much of the second period, outshooting Alvernia 25-10 overall and 10-6 on goal. But, Alvernia's defense, behind ten saves by Alvernia goalie Stephanie Skorupa, held strong to stay within a goal.
• The period was poised to close with the Bears continuing to hold a 1-0 lead, but first-year Alexis Oliveira had other plans. Oliveira picked up a puck off the pass of Marissa Caswell. Oliveira then split a trio of defenders and fired a shot into goal inside the left post to even the game at 1-1 with 48 seconds to play in the period. Skorupa made her final two saves of the period in those final 48 seconds to send the game into the third tied at 1-1.
• The Bears again pressured for much of the final period of regulation, outshooting Alvernia 20-8 overall and 9-4 on goal. Skorupa held strong with nine more saves. Alvernia defenders also combined for eight blocks to keep the game at 1-1 and send it into overtime.
• The Golden Wolves and Bears traded shots in the opening 90 seconds of overtime. Just under two minutes into the extra period, Gillian Evans was on a breakaway but was tripped by the Bears. While no penalty shot was called, the Bears were knocked for a tripping penalty, putting Alvernia on the 4v3 power-play. Alvernia sent in five shots - including an opportunity that went off the pipe for Hart. But, the penalty expired without an Alvernia goal as the game moved back to 3v3 for 1:02 of overtime action.
• With just 23 second remaining, Hart worked the puck out of the corner and along the wall. She then fired across the faceoff circle and into goal inside the opposite post to secure the 2-1 win for the Golden Wolves. 

Inside the Box Score

• First-year Alexis Oliveira scored her first collegiate goal, and Erin Schutt scored her first collegiate point with an assist.  
• Sophomores Emma Hart and Marissa Caswell also recorded points off of a goal and an assist, respectively. Emma Hart also led Alvernia on the faceoff with nine wins on 15 attempts.
• Stephanie Skorupa had 27 saves in goal for the win.
• Laila Tosi finished with a team-high four blocks. 
• Alvernia finished with 26 blocks, its most in a game since recording 26 against Arcadia in November of 2023.

Up Next

• Alvernia is back at SUNY Potsdam on Saturday at 3:00 PM to close out the weekend series.