Knights Win School-Record 7th Straight Game with 2-1 Victory Over Niagara

December 9, 2006

Potsdam, NY – Senior Stephanie Hansen (Calgary, ALB) saw a streak of 171 straight scoreless minutes in goal snapped, but the Clarkson University Women's Hockey team still was able to hold on for a 2-1 victory over Niagara University Saturday afternoon in front of 129 fans at Cheel Arena.

The Golden Knights improved to 12-6-2 overall, winners of seven straight, the longest winning-streak in the program’s four-year history. The Purple Eagles dropped to 4-10-4 overall. The Golden Knights play two more non-league contests in January against Northeastern and Boston College before returning to finish out the ECACHL schedule.

Unlike Friday when Niagara was outplayed in the final two periods, the Purple Eagles came out strong in the opening frame, putting constant pressure on the Clarkson net in the early going. Clarkson rallied to even up play, but neither team could pick up a goal as the teams went into the first intermission scoreless.

The second period saw Clarkson take control of the contest with two goals just 3:32 apart. Just eight seconds into a power play, junior Brooke Beazer (Kingston, ONT) scored her first goal of the season at 8:04 when she rattled home a shot from the right circle over the left shoulder of Niagara goalie Allison Rutledge. Carlee Eusepi (Oakville, ONT) and Kim McKenney (Smiths Falls, ONT) each picked up assists. At 11:36 of the second, Genevieve Lavoie (St. Laurent, QUE) continued her goal-scoring streak with her team-high 17th goal of the season when she delivered from the slot. Marie-Jo Gaudet (Sherbrooke, QUE) and Christine Bailkowski (Aurora, ONT) each assisted on the goal. Lavoie’s goal helped her set a new single-season goal-scoring record for freshman, surpassing the 16 goals scored by teammate Ashley Shaidle (Hudson, OH) in the 2003-04 campaign.

Late in the third period, Niagara made the game’s outcome a little more interesting when Mary McKinnon scored on a wrist shot, her third goal of the year, from just inside the right circle, lifting the puck over Hansen’s left shoulder to end a scoreless streak of 171 minutes, 14 seconds by the senior goaltender. Katie Gray and Chelsea Donovan each earned assists on the goal for Niagara.

Despite a late run of chances for Niagara, the Purple Eagles could not find the equalizer and picked up a late penalty, ending their chances of scoring the game-tying goal with the goaltender pulled.

Hansen finished with 26 saves and earned her ninth victory of the season in 10 decisions. Rutledge also made 26 saves as Clarkson narrowly out shot Niagara 28-27.

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