Potsdam, NY – A relatively quiet start crescendoed into a loud and fast-paced finish for the Clarkson University Women’s Hockey team Sunday afternoon as the Golden Knights pounded in five goals in the final period to record a 9-1 blowout victory against the University of Vermont at Cheel Arena.
The Golden Knights saw their season mark improve to 8-5-3 overall with their fourth straight win, while Vermont dropped to 3-11-1. Clarkson closes out the first-half of the season at home next weekend against ECAC Hockey foes Cornell and Colgate.
For the second straight day, Clarkson got on the scoreboard first. Continuing her offensive outburst from Saturday afternoon, freshman Juana Baribeau (Amos, QUE) scored her fifth goal in two days to put the Knights up 1-0 early in Sunday’s contest. Skating across the circles, Baribeau flipped a backhand into the back of the net at 8:11, her 12th goal of the season, with the assist going to Britney Selina (Thornhill, ONT), her 11th of the year.
After the two teams skated even for the next 15 minutes or so, Clarkson upped its intensity and scored three times midway through the second period. With a wrist shot from the slot, Daris Tendler (Verwood, SASK) started the barrage at 9:05 of the second. Just 52 seconds later, and only six seconds into a power-play chance, the Knights struck again when junior Genevieve Lavoie (Delson, QUE) took a shot from behind the net and had her shot ricochet off of Vermont goaltender Ashley Walenty and into the goal. Four minutes later, senior Marie-Jo Gaudet (Sherbrooke, QUE) out skated two Vermont defenders and put a nifty move on the Cats’ goaltender for her 10th goal of the season, giving the Knights a 4-0 lead with just over six minutes to go in the second frame. Lavoie, Gabrielle Kosziwka (Limehouse, ONT), Kimberly McKenney (Smiths Falls, ONT), and Courtney Olson (Brunswick, CA) each recorded an assist in the second period.
In the opening minutes of the third period, Clarkson squashed any hopes of a Vermont comeback as the Green and Gold tallied twice in the first three minutes of the final period. Tendler scored her second goal of the game during a scrum in front at 1:44 of the period, with assists going to Lavoie and Kosziwka. Just 54 seconds later, freshman Kali Gillanders (Kyle, SASK) stole the puck near center ice and skated in unchecked to the top of the circle, blasting a slap shot that was stopped initially by Walenty, but then bounded in over her shoulder and across the goal line.
The Knights continued to add insurance goals throughout the third period. With just over eight minutes to go, Lavoie recorded her second goal of the game, a power-play marker, with assists going to Selina and sophomore Melissa Waldie (Newmarket, ONT). With 3:37 remaining, the Knights poured in on some more when Baribeau made a steal at center ice and skated in towards Vermont replacement goaltender Caitlin Whitlock. Whitlock made the initial stop, but Baribeau’s persistence paid off with no Vermont defenders in the picture, scoring on her second shot.
The Catamounts finally got on the scoreboard against Clarkson replacement keeper Danielle Murmes (Wellesley, MA). A difficult screen blinded the sophomore as the puck hurdled over her left shoulder with just over a minute remaining, making the score 8-1. Shannon Bellefeuille recorded the goal, and Kailey Nash and Molly Morrison each picked up assists.
That Vermont goal, however, would not end the high-scoring third frame. Melissa Waldie scored her seventh of the season with 9.2 seconds remaining, and Lavoie gained her third assist and fifth point of the game.
Clarkson’s nine goals were the most the team has scored in a game since a 9-0 shutout victory against Vermont to open the 2006-07 season. Lavoie led the team with five points (two goals, three assists), leading 10 different point scorers.
Sophomore Lauren Dahm (Baldwinsville, NY) made 16 saves for the Knights through 54 minutes of play before Murmes came into the game in the waning minutes, making four saves in her first collegiate action. Walenty made 17 stops for Vermont, and Whitlock added seven saves in her third-period relief session. Clarkson finished with a 33-21 edge in shots and went 3-for-5 on the power play while holding the Catamounts scoreless in their two man-advantage chances.
