Clarkson Hosts UVM In Women's Hockey Action This Weekend

Erica Howe was named ECAC Hockey Goaltender of the Week after back stopping Clarkson to a sweep of St. Lawrence - photo by Gary Mikel

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After an impressive season-opening sweep of its archrival, the Clarkson University Women’s Hockey team will look to continue its winning ways when it hosts the University of Vermont in a two-game series at Cheel Arena this weekend. Guided by fifth-year co-head coaches Matt and Shannon Desrosiers and assistant coach Matt Kelly, the Golden Knights opened their 10th season of NCAA play by knocking off nationally-ranked St. Lawrence this past weekend in a pair of non-conference games.

Two of the Golden Knights’ key players, juniors Erica Howe (Ottawa, ONT) and Jamie Lee Rattray (Kanata, ONT) proved to be the difference makers in Clarkson’s 1-0 victory over the Saints in the season opener for both teams Friday night in Canton. Howe, who solidified herself as ECAC Hockey’s top goaltender last year, began the 2012-13 campaign with a standout effort for the Knights, turning aside all 32 St. Lawrence shots to post her 10th career shutout. Rattray scored the game’s lone goal just 102 seconds into the contest.

On Saturday at Cheel in the 3-2 win, senior Danielle Skirrow (Trenton, ONT), who tallied a team-high five game-winning goals in 2011-12, came through with the deciding goal, her 30th career marker, with 3:24 remaining to break a 2-2 tie. Junior Shelby Nisbet (Wiseton, SASK) and freshman defenseman Erin Ambrose (Keswick, ONT) scored late in the first to give the Green and Gold a 2-0 lead. Howe, who was named ECAC Hockey Goaltender of the Week, finished with 24 stops.
Clarkson returns fourteen letterwinners from last year’s squad, which was one of the best in ECAC Hockey. The Knights skated to the program’s fourth 20-win season and placed third in the conference with a 15-5-2 ECAC Hockey mark. Junior Carly Mercer (Exeter, ONT) will serve as Clarkson’s captain, while senior defenseman Hailey Wood (Lethbridge, ALB) will act as an assistant captain.

Vermont split a series at Gutterson Fieldhouse in Burlington this past weekend against Penn State. The Catamounts dropped the first game 5-3 on Saturday, but came back with a 3-1 victory over the Nittany Lions on Sunday.

The Knights lead the all-time series against Vermont 13-1-3 and are on a current three-game unbeaten streak (1-0-2) over the Catamounts. Last season the team battled to a 3-3 tie in Burlington.

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