Clarkson Scores Late, Tops Saints 3-2
by:
Tara FreemanCaptain Kelly Sabatine '13 scored her first goal of the season on Saturday.
Oct. 6: The St. Lawrence University women's hockey team rallied from a two-goal deficit to tie the game at 2-2 in the third period against Clarkson on Saturday, but Danielle Skirrow's tally with only 3:24 remaining proved to be the game-winner as the Golden Knights topped the Saints 3-2 at Cheel Arena.
Clarkson (2-0-0) came out of the gate with momentum after a 1-0 win on Friday in Canton, NY, outshooting the Saints 13-7 in the first period to open up a 2-0 lead. Though the Scarlet and Brown outshot the Knights in both the second and third periods, they were unable to come away with a win, falling to 0-2-0.
"This wasn't the start we were looking for in terms of our record, but we were able to take a good step forward in defining our team's personality," said St. Lawrence head coach Chris Wells. "Clarkson played very well in the first two periods and scored a timely goal by a kid who had a great weekend for them."
Both teams finished with 26 shots in the game, with Erica Howe stopping 24 shots for Clarkson and Carmen MacDonald turning in 23 saves for St. Lawrence. The Saints had numerous scoring bids, finishing 1-for-8 on the power play, but had two goals disallowed in the game. Clarkson was 1-for-5 on the power play.
Clarkson built its 2-0 advantage thanks to back-to-back goals only 1:29 apart late in the first. Shelby Nisbet's first of the season put the home team on top 1-0 at 15:42, while Erin Ambrose's first collegiate goal came on the power play at 17:11 to send the Knights to the locker room with momentum and a two goal lead.
Neither team was able to capitalize on quality chances in the second period, including a combined nine power play opportunities. However, senior captain Kelly Sabatine would get the Saints within one at 2-1 a mere 3:17 into the third period. Sabatine took a pass from rookie Abbey McRae and fired a shot towards Howe. Though Howe appeared to have a beat on the shot, the puck caromed off of her glove and into the net for Sabatine's first of the season.
Sophomore transfer Kayla Raniwsky would even the scoring at 2-2 on the power play at the 14:43 mark of the third. Sophomore Ellie Williams got the puck to senior Michelle Ng. Though Ng's shot on Howe was stopped, Raniwsky was there to pounce on the rebound and pull the Saints even with 5:17 to go in regulation.
With the puck in the Clarkson end, the Saints tried to pinch and keep it in the zone. However, the Knights were able to chip it forward and rush up the ice two-on-one. Skirrow finished the play, beating MacDonald for her first of the season and putting Clarkson back on top 3-2 with less than four minutes to go.
Though the Saints would have a power play and the goaltender pulled for a 5-on-3, they were unable to score the tying goal in the final minute on Erica Howe.
St. Lawrence will host the unanimous No. 1 team in the country and defending national champions, the Minnesota Golden Gophers, at Appleton Arena for a two-game series next weekend. The puck is scheduled to drop on the opener on Friday, October 12 at 7:00pm.