By: Liam Hoffmann
On the back of Cassidy Burnash's nine points, the Brockport Golden Eagles soared over the Potsdam Bears 18-3. Today was Brockport's 18th straight victory over the Bears. Brockport has started SUNYAC play 3-1 after a 1-3 overall start to the season.
Burnash scored three goals and recorded five assists in the first half before one second-half goal. Tristan Davis and Alayna Foos each had hat tricks. Jazmin Medina scored her first career goal in the fourth quarter. Goalie Arianna Reed had a quiet but effective day with six saves and only three goals surrendered.
"Moving the ball quick on offense, seeing some of the cutters...we were working on cutting with intention and full speed so being able to see those and connect today was huge," Burnash said.
Brockport controlled possession from the first minute. They showcased great hustle in ground ball situations, particularly off of the draw, to ensure the ball would stay on Potsdam's end of the field most of the game. Burnash picked up her first point with a helper to Tristan Davis. Paige Thowe followed it up with her fourth season goal and second in as many games. Megan Macwilliams got Potsdam on the board halfway through quarter one.
Down the stretch of the first, three converted Brockport free position goals from Davis, Burnash, and Foos alongside a sweeping shot from Foos that found the back put Brockport ahead 6-1 after 15.
"We're trying to get our offensive concepts and run everything thorough," Foos said. "We could not underestimate this team at all, we wanted to come out hard then keep it rolling the whole time."
The goal scoring was identical from quarters one to two. Davis followed by Julia Quinlan extended the Brockport scoring run to 6-0 but Anita Reitano ended it 30 seconds later to make the score 8-2. The goal scoring slowed for the next few minutes aside from when Burnash scored unassisted around the eight-minute mark of the second. Amanda Evans, in her third start in the last four games but only fifth on the year, scored her third season goal getting Brockport to double-digits. By halftime, Brockport led 12-2.
"When we have opportunities to go and just be really smart and not have shooting turnovers, I'm really proud of that," Brockport head coach Bryana Glasser said.
With a ten-goal advantage, a running clock was established in the second half and Brockport was content to milk the clock. Their ball control got the job done. Foos completed her hat trick early in the half and Sarah Kilburn picked up her 13th season goal with a signature step-down free position shot. With two minutes left, Burnash scored unassisted for her ninth and final point in the game.
"We're not very deep as a team with subs so we don't want to get in a track meet with everyone," Burnash said. "We possess the ball and control the momentum of the game, it's really important for us."
In the fourth, Kilburn and Quinlan each scored their second goal of the game. Medina's goal was Brockport's last and Saturday's 18 goals were Brockport's highest output of the season. Reitano scored her second of the game in the final minutes and set the final score of 18-3.
A Brockport team that's found its rhythm will head to Plattsburgh on Wed. Apr. 6 with their sights set on getting to 4-1 in the SUNYAC. Listen to that game live on 89.1 the Point with the pregame show set to begin at 3:45 p.m.