A significant margin in shots did not result in a victory for the Clarkson University Women’s Hockey team, which lost for second time in two weeks to Rensselaer, falling to the Engineers 2-1 before 203 fans at Cheel Arena Saturday afternoon.
The Golden Knights, who saw a two-game win streak come to an end, fall to 15-10-5 overall and to 9-6-3 in ECAC Hockey. Clarkson hosts Princeton and Quinnipiac next weekend in its final regular-season home stand at Cheel Arena.
Rensselaer, which is 2-6-1 in its last nine games with both victories coming against Clarkson, improved its record 13-13-3 overall and to 8-8-2 in the league. The Engineers also defeated the Knights 2-1 in Troy on January 23.
The Engineers’ Jamie-Lynn Stewart scored the deciding goal with 3:14 remaining in regulation, while goaltender Sonja van der Bliek posted 25 saves to lead Rensselaer to the one-goal victory on the road. Stewart connected for the game-winner with a quick shot from the top of the crease after taking a behind-the-net pass from Kendra Dunlop.
Clarkson’s all-time leading goal scorer, senior Marie-Jo Gaudet (Sherbrooke, QUE) put the Knights on the scoreboard first early in the opening period. Gaudet took a perfect pass from senior defenseman Kimberly McKenney (Smiths Falls, ONT) just outside the Rensselaer blueline, split the defense and finished off the breakaway by scoring her 17th goal of the season, and 58th career marker at 4:58.
The Engineers came right back, however, with defenseman Melissa Boik’s goal five seconds later.
Clarkson dominated a scoreless second period out shooting Rensselaer 8-3, and had an excellent opportunity for the go ahead goal right after a successful penalty kill, but van der Bliek made a pad save on a breakaway attempt by freshman Kali Gillanders (Kyle, SASK) late in the middle frame.
The Knights out shot the Engineers 26-14. Sophomore Lauren Dahm (Baldwinsville, NY) posted 12 saves for Clarkson. The Knights went 0-of-5 on the power play, while Rensselaer was scoreless in three man-advantage opportunities.
