Another solid defensive effort and some timely offense lifted the Clarkson University Women’s Hockey team to a 4-1 victory over the University of Vermont on Saturday at Cheel Arena as the Golden Knights completed a sweep of the Catamounts in the opening weekend of the 2006-07 campaign. Clarkson shut out Vermont 9-0 on Friday. FLASH RECAP of FRIDAY's WIN
Four different players scored for Clarkson in Saturday’s victory and the Knights allowed just nine shots on senior goaltender Kira Hurley (Pickering, ONT), who came within six minutes of posting her second straight shutout.
Clarkson’s fourth line, which was held off the score sheet in Friday’s win, gave the Knights the early momentum in Saturday’s game when senior Carolynn Zidek (Chicago, ILL) scored at 4:31 of the first period. Zidek broke out of a lengthy goal-scoring drought with her first tally since midway through her freshman campaign as she stuffed in a shot at the left post for her fourth career score. Classmate Andrea Maluta (Spencerport, NY) picked up the assist during the scramble at the side of the net.
After getting just one shot on net through the opening 20 minutes, Vermont came out strong to start the second with some early scoring opportunities. Clarkson, however, was able to stave off the Catamounts’ pressure, behind some timely saves from Hurley, and finished out the middle frame with a pair of goals.
Freshman Britney Selina (Thornhill, ONT) knocked in her second goal of the weekend at 16:22 after a strong effort in the offensive zone by classmate Genevieve Lavoie (St. Laurent, QUE) who set-up the Knights’ second score. Sophomore defenseman Kimberly McKenney (Smiths Falls, ONT) also assisted. With 1:42 left in the middle frame, junior Jessica Cloutier (Parker, CO) converted on a rebound off a shot by senior Melissa Marshall (Oak Lawn, IL) to put the Green and Gold on top 3-0 after 40 minutes.
Vermont finally got on the scoreboard for the first time during their weekend series in Potsdam when Karen Sentoff tallied an unassisted goal at 14:41 of the third. Just 34 seconds later, however, sophomore Marie-Jo Gaudet (Sherbrooke, QUE) put Clarkson back on top by three goals with her team-high third goal of the season. Marshall, with her fourth assist of the weekend, and senior captain Lindsay Williams (Mississauga, ONT) set up the goal.
The Knights out shot the Catamounts 37-9. Clarkson was 0-of-8 on the power play and held Vermont scoreless on its three man-advantage chances.
