After a 27-day layoff, the Clarkson University Women’s Hockey team returns to action by opening the New Year with a two-game series against Boston College in Lake Placid. The Golden Knights will face off against the Eagles in a two-game series at the historic 1980 Olympic Arena, beginning on New Year’s Day at 4:00 p.m. The teams conclude the series on January 2 with a 6:00 p.m. contest.
Guided by head coach Rick Seeley and assistants Shannon Smith and Laura Hays, Clarkson closed out the 2004 portion of the schedule with a 6-5-4 overall record. In their final games before the break, the Knights swept Niagara University at Cheel Arena on December 3-4, winning 1-0 and 4-3. Clarkson closed out a stretch of four consecutive games against nationally-ranked foes with a 1-1 tie against North Country rival St. Lawrence on November 28 in Potsdam to begin its current three-game unbeaten streak (2-0-1).
In its second year of NCAA competition and first season in the Eastern College Athletic Conference Hockey League (ECACHL), the Knights are the youngest team in college hockey with just one junior, 15 sophomores and six freshmen in the line up. Led by sophomore captain Lindsay Williams (Mississauga, ONT) and assistant captains, junior Kristi Shaw (Belleville, ONT) and sophomore Ashley Shaidle (Hudson, OH), the Green and Gold are tied for seventh in the ECACHL with 2-3-1 league mark.
Freshman Katie Morrison (Ridgefield, CT) leads a balanced scoring effort for Clarkson with 12 points on six goals and six assists. Sophomore Jill Nolan (Labrador, NF) follows with 11 points, including a team-high seven goals. Rookie Jessica Cloutier (Parker, CO) rounds out the Knights’ double figure scorers with 10 points, including a team-high seven assists.
Sophomore goaltender Kira McDonald (Pickering, ONT) backbones a solid defensive effort for Clarkson. Starting in 13 games this season, McDonald boasts a .920 save percentage and a 2.25 goals against average en route to a 5-5-2 record, including one shutout. She was named USCHO Defensive Player of the Week and ECACHL Goaltender of the Week on November 29. Classmate, Stephanie Hansen (Calgary, ALB) has seen action in three games and posts a .935 save percentage, a 1.74 GAA and a 1-0-2 record along with one shutout. Hansen was named ECACHL Goaltender of the Week on October 19.
The Eagles of Boston College, who compete in Hockey East, own a 4-11-1 overall record and are in fifth place in their conference with a 1-6-1 league slate. Guided by second-year head coach Tom Mutch, the Eagles last played on December 12 when they lost at home to Princeton, 3-2 in overtime. Boston College shut out Vermont, 3-0 at Conte Forum on December 7.
