With a complete 60-minute performance the Clarkson University Women’s Hockey team officially opened the 2009-10 campaign with a convincing 5-1 victory over 6th-ranked Boston College before 480 fans at Cheel Arena on Friday night.

In a balanced effort five different Golden Knights scored goals, 10 Clarkson players recorded at least one point and sophomore goaltender Lauren Dahm (Baldwinsville, NY) posted 14 saves to backbone a stingy defensive effort as the Green and Gold won their fourth straight season-opener at Cheel Arena.

Ranked 11th in the USA Today/USA Hockey Women’s Preseason Poll, Clarkson will host the Eagles in the second game of the weekend series on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.

The Knights were on top of their game right from the opening faceoff and built a 3-0 lead through the opening 20 minutes. Senior Genevieve Lavoie (Delson, QUE) started the Clarkson scoring with her 99th career point at 7:29. Lavoie picked up a pass from freshman defenseman Hailey Wood (Lethbridge, ALB) in the left faceoff circle and fired in low shot for her 43rd career goal.

Less than two minutes later, senior Dominique Thibault (L’Original, ONT) tallied 11 seconds into the first power play of the game for her first goal as a Golden Knight. A three-year all-star at UConn before transferring to Clarkson this season, Thibault took a pass in the slot from classmate Britney Selina (Thornhill, ONT) and snapped in a quick wrist at 9:24. Senior Carlee Eusepi (Oakville, ONT) also assisted.

With time winding down in the period, sophomore Danielle Boudreau (Whitby, ONT)  knocked in her own rebound during a scramble in front at 18:33 to make it 3-0. Brittany Mulligan (London, ONT) set up the goal.

The Eagles came out with a more determined effort in the second period and had their best opportunity to score midway through the stanza while on the power play. The Eagles put two shots on the Clarkson net during the man advantage, but Dahm turned aside the attempts to the keep the visitors off the scoreboard.

Moments after the successful penalty kill, Clarkson went on top 4-0. Junior Melissa Waldie (Newmarket, ONT) took a pass from senior Tegan Schroeder (Lumsden, SASK) in the BC zone and lifted a shot past an Eagle defenseman and over the stick-side shoulder of the goaltender at 13:05.

Boston College spoiled Dahm’s shutout bid at 13:08 of the third when Shannon Webster’s shot from the left boards during a four-on-four situation deflected in off a Clarkson defender and into the goal for the Eagles’ lone score.

Clarkson came right back at 14:04 when sophomore Juana Baribeau (Amos, QUE) one-timed a pass from Thibault for the Knights’ fifth goal.

Clarkson out shot Boston College 29-15. The Knights were 1-of-4 on the power play and killed off all five of the Eagles man-advantage chances.

Kiera Kingston (four saves) and Corinne Boyles (20 stops) combined for 24 saves in the Boston College goal.