Potsdam, NY - After proving a worthy adversary in a one-goal game on Friday afternoon, the Clarkson University Women's Hockey team struggled against 8th-ranked Mercyhurst in game two of their weekend series as the Golden Knights dropped a 6-0 decision to the Lakers in front of 329 fans Saturday afternoon at Cheel Arena.
The Golden Knights fell to 2-2 on the season with their second straight loss and Mercyhurst improved to 3-1 overall. Clarkson begins a four-game road trip next weekend when they visit non-conference opponent Wayne State.
The Lakers jumped on Clarkson early with a 12-1 shot advantage through the first 20 minutes with three of those on-goal attempts making it past Knights' goaltender Kira Hurley (Picerking, ONT). Courtney Unruh scored her first goal of the season at the 11:11 mark of the opening frame with Valerie Chouinar and Stephanie Jones earning assists. Mercyhurst scored goal two at 14:55 when Couinard came through with her third marker of the season as linemates Jones and Unruh continued to rack up points early on. Julia Colizza added a third goal for the Lakers just 1:19 later with assists going to Sarah Kurth and Danielle Lansing.
A goalie change by Clarkson after the first period did little to end the Lakers dominance as they out shot the Knights 11-4 in the second stanza and 11-3 in the third period. Ashley Pendleton scored her first goal of the season at 12:55 of the second with Jill Nugent gaining her first assist of the season. Samantha Shirley scored in the thrid period at 8:37 and Colizza became the first Lakers' player with multiple goals in the game as she scored at 16:34.
Hurley made nine saves in the opening 20 minutes and Stephanie Hansen (Calgary, ALB) close out the final two period by making 19 saves and allowing three goals. Laura Hosier made six stops for the Lakers over 50:33 and Courtney Drennan made two saves in the final 9:27 to complete the shutout.
The Lakers ended the game leading the Knights 34-8 in shots. Both teams were scoreless on the power play with Mercyhurst coming up empty in four attempts and the Knights stymied in three tries.
