Niagara, NY - A week after surprising top-ranked St. Lawrence University, the Clarkson University Women's Hockey team was returned the favor by Niagara University as the Purple Eagles came up with a 4-1 win over the Golden Knights on their home ice.
The Golden Knights lost their third game over the last five contests, though this is Clarkson's first loss to an unranked opponent in the 2005-06 campaign, falling to 11-5-1 overall. Niagara moved to 5-9-1 overall and the two teams will face off again tomorrow at 2 pm.
In much the same manner that St. Lawrence enjoyed a steady advantage everywhere but the scoreboard last Friday, the Golden Knights out shot Niagara 10-2 in the opening stanza but saw the score tied 1-1 at the end of 20 minutes. The Purple Eagles scored at 5:30 when Meagan Smith tallied her fourth goal of the season on a pass from Emilie Castonguay. Junior Ashley Shaidle (Hudson, OH) tied the score for Clarkson at 11:25 in the first with her eighth goal of the year. Freshmen Micheleen Devine (Medicine Hat, ALB) and Sophie Doyon (Victoriaville, QUE) each assisted on the Knights' lone goal.
Out shot again in the second period, 10-6, Niagara nonetheless took the lead with two quick goals to open the period. Twenty-two seconds in Chelsea Donovan scored her third goal of the season and Lisa Agozzino followed just 16 seconds later to give the Purple Eagles a 3-1 lead. Clarkson had its opportunities in the third period, out shooting Niagara 19-9 in the final frame, but the Purple Eagles put the game away with an empty net goal by Donovan with 12 seconds remaining.
Junior Kira Hurley (Pickering, ONT) made one save through the first 20:22 for Clarkson before being replaced by classmate Stephanie Hansen (Calgary, ALB), who made 12 saves over 38 minutes before being pulled for the extra attacker late in the game. Clarkson committed just one penalty and killed the Niagara extra-man opportunity, but was held scoreless in five power play opportunities throughout the contest. The Golden Knights had a 39-17 edge in shots.
