Potsdam, NY - Sophomore Ashleigh Moorehead (Clinton, NY) scored the biggest goal of her collegiate career when she knocked in a loose puck 77 seconds into sudden-victory overtime to lift the Clarkson University Women’s Hockey team to a 3-2 triumph over Princeton in the second game of the ECAC Quarterfinal series at Cheel Arena on Saturday afternoon.
Earning its school-record 23rd win of the season, Clarkson (23-8-5) forced a deciding third game in its playoff series against Princeton (14-11-6), which will be play at Cheel on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. The winner of tomorrow’s game will move on to the ECAC Championship Tournament on March 7-8.
Ranked 9th in the nation, Clarkson jumped out to a 2-0 lead through 40 minutes and then held off a late charge by Princeton to gain its first victory ever over the Tigers, snapping a 0-8-1 skid.
Midway through the opening period, Clarkson scored its first goal of the playoffs when sophomore defenseman Carlee Eusepi (Oakville, ONT) finished off a rush with an unassisted goal at 10:07, her 6th goal of the season.
The Knights’ captain made it 2-0 at 10:54 of the middle frame. Positioned in front while on the power play, Katie Morrison (Ridgefield, CT) tipped in a shot from the point by senior defenseman Amanda Dittmer (Chatham, ONT) for her fifth goal of the year.
At 7:28 of the third, Princeton got on the scoreboard when senior Lizzie Keady connected for a power-play goal on a shot from the bottom of the right circle with junior Christine Foster and sophomore Melanie Wallace assisting.
The Tigers tied the game with another power-play marker at 15:11. During a two-man advantage, senior Brittany Salman tipped in a shot by sophomore Stephanie Denino for her 11th goal of the season. Junior Katherine Dineen also set up the tying score, which forced the extra session.
Clarkson improved its overtime record to 2-0-5 with Moorehead's game-winner. During a scramble in front of the Princeton goal, Moorehead found the puck off the stick of senior Jessica Cloutier (Parker, CO) and slid in a low shot to end the game with her fourth goal of the season, and bring the Golden Knights off their bench in a celebration at center ice.
Clarkson out shot the Tigers 28-21. Freshman Eve Grandmont-Berube (Drummondville, QUE) posted 19 saves for the Knights to improve her record to 13-6-4. Junior Kristen Young made 25 stops for Princeton.
Clarkson went 1-of-5 on the power play, while Princeton connected for two goals in five man-advantage opportunities.
