Senior transfer, Duun Cocozza O'Hara scored twice in her first game in Scarlet and Brown, and first-year Maille McMahon had a goal and an assist in her first collegiate game, to help lift the St. Lawrence University women's soccer team to a 3-1 win over SUNY Potsdam at Sandy MacAllaster Field on Wednesday afternoon.

St. Lawrence improved to 1-0-0 on the season, while Potsdam fell to 0-1-0.

"We're so proud of this groups effort and heart." said head coach Sinead McSharry "We got there in the end after a really tough day prior to the game. Our energy from the sideline was incredible too. Shout out to our grounds crew for making Sandy MacAllaster field look amazing, and for all the fans that came out to support!"

As expected, after missing the 2020 season, both teams started the game slow and went through a feeling-out process in the first half of play. The Saints had most of the pressure generating 11 shots total with three on goal. Potsdam's Chloe Gordon and Saints' goalkeeper Keely Snode were both up to the task in net stopping three shots apiece.

Darcie McDonough came on in relief of Snode between the pipes to start the second half after 45 minutes of shutout action.

O'Hara got the first goal of the 2021 season at the 60:21 mark. First-year midfielder Emma Casey had the ball just outside the box and dished it off to O'Hara with two defenders collapsing, giving her the first assist of her career. The senior was then all alone with Gordon and found the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.

Potsdam answered back shortly after at 70:10 off of a goal from Hailey von Ahn. von Ahn was found with a long pass through the air by Mackenzie Bowie and took the ball to the net beating McDonough to knot the score at 1-1.



O'Hara would break the tie just over six minutes later when McMahon hit her with a perfect through ball. O'Hara raced ahead with defenders trailing and fired a shot from the top of the box to put the Saints up 2-1.

McMahon's stellar first game as a Saint was not over, as she put the Scarlet and Brown up 3-1 at the 81:41 mark. Mia Cence was given a free-kick off a Potsdam foul and ripped a long shot in on the Bears goal that went off the goalkeeper, off the crossbar, and settled in front of the net. McMahon was in the right place at the right time heading the ball into the open net for her first goal as a Saint.

Snode recorded three saves in 45 minutes of shutout action, while McDonough stopped two shots in the second half. Gordon stopped seven shots for the Bears.
 
The Saints outshot the Bears 24-8 and held a 10-6 shot- on-goal advantage. The Saints also took five corner kicks to the Potsdam's none.
 
The Scarlet and Brown will return to Sandy MacAllaster Field to take on Stevens in their first game of the North Country Classic at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, September 4th.