Boston, MA - Senior Lindsay Williams (Mississauga, ONT) recorded her first two-goal game since February 2004 as Williams and the Clarkson University Women's Hockey team earned its eighth straight win in a 5-0 victory over Northeastern Friday afternoon at Matthews Arena.
The Golden Knights improved to 13-6-2 overall with their eighth consecutive victory, the second-longest streak in the country, and return to action on Saturday when they visit Boston College. Northeastern dropped to 3-14-1.
Clarkson controlled play for much of the opening period, outshooting the Huskies by a 19-5 margin. Williams put the Knights on the board at the 5:24 mark with her third goal of the season. After senior Ashley Shaidle (Hudson, OH) had her shot from close range denied by netminder Sarah Belliveau, Williams swooped in to corral the rebound and put it into the back of the net. Belliveau kept her team in the game early, however, by making 18 first-period saves.
The Knights continued to apply pressure in the second period, scoring three times. Christina Valesente (Ithaca, NY) notched her first goal of the season 7:57 into the second period after taking control of a giveaway by Erin Reil at her own blue line and jamming it past Belliveau at the near post. Shaidle scored a goal of her own at the 12:59 mark, taking a pass from Jessica Cloutier (Parker, CO) in front of the Northeastern net. Williams then picked up her second goal of the game with one minute left in the period after Belliveau came out in an attempt to dive on a loose puck. With the puck still in play and the net empty, Williams got a stick on the puck and directed it into the open cage. Shaidle earned her third point of the game, earning an assist on the fourth goal.
Clarkson's Marie-Jo Gaudet (Sherbrooke, QUE) tallied her sixth goal of the season 1:43 into the third period to account for the final score.
Despite the five goals allowed, Belliveau played well for the Huskies, making 39 saves. Senior Stephanie Hansen (Calgary, ALB) picked up her 10th win in 11 starts this year and third shutout of the campaign, making 15 stops for Clarkson. The Knights finished with a 44-15 advantage in shots.
