POTSDAM - With 13 minutes remaining in the second half, freshman Hailey Hider (Pittsford, NY) stepped into a shot about 35 yards out and sent a missile that sunk just under the crossbar to lift the Clarkson University women’s soccer team out of a five-game winless streak in a 2-1 victory over SUNY Potsdam Wednesday night at Hantz Turf Field.

The Golden Knights improved to 5-3-2 with the win, while Potsdam suffered its ninth straight loss to fall to 2-9. Clarkson returns to Liberty League action on Saturday when it travels to compete against RIT.

After a scoreless first half with only a combined seven shots, both teams broke out offensively in the second half. Potsdam opened the scoring in the 57th minute when Heather Johnson accepted a pass from Erin McCluskey and lofted a shot from 20-plus yards out into the far corner of the goal over the head of Clarkson goalkeeper Kim Kenline (Akron, NY). After that shot, Clarkson limited the Bears’ opportunities while creating plenty of its own. Potsdam’s lead was shortlived, as the Knights tied the game up 1-1 at 62:20 when Megan Strijek’s (Schenectady, NY) shot hit the crossbar and bounded out to the right side to sophomore Jessica Budaj (Windsor, MA), who finished off the play by volleying it past Potsdam keeper Shannon Weader.

Clarkson had a few more chances before gaining the game-winner on a bit of a broken play. After a few attempts at sending a cross into the box, the Bears were able to deflect the ball out to Clarkson’s defensive backs. There, Hailey Hider stepped into the bouncing ball and fired a blast from about 35 yards out that tipped the underside of the crossbar and went into the back of the net at 76:57.

Clarkson finished with a 15-6 edge in shots and a 6-0 advantage in corner kick opportunities. Kenline made three saves for her fifth win of the season, while Weader was called upon to make 10 stops for Potsdam.

WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY

In Canton, Dayle Wilkinson scored 36 seconds into overtime to give the St. Lawrence University women’s hockey team a 5-4 win over McGill University in an exhibition game at Appleton Arena on Wednesday.

The Saints scored the first three goals of the game, but McGill used a three-goal outburst in the third period to take a 4-3 lead. Kelly Sabatine, who finished with three goals, tied the game for SLU with 2 minutes, 12 seconds left. Victoria Leimgardt also scored for SLU.

Katia Clement-Heydra, Darragh Hamilton and Kim Ton-That scored for McGill.

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