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After suffering its first loss of the season, the Clarkson University Women’s Hockey team will need to be in top form as it returns to play in Potsdam with three consecutive games over a five-day span against Top-10-ranked foes at Cheel Arena.
The Golden Knights face a stern test this weekend as they close out the early non-league portion of the schedule against a pair of elite programs in Hockey East. The Knights battle the third-rated University of New Hampshire Wildcats on Friday at 7:00 p.m. and the ninth-ranked Terriers of Boston University on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. ECAC Hockey action starts up on Tuesday, October 27 when the Green and Gold host North Country rival, sixth-ranked St. Lawrence University at 7:00 p.m.
Fans of Clarkson University Women's Hockey can follow the Golden Knights over the internet through various multi-media options at
Clarkson Hockey Broadcast Central
Most teams would be satisfied by gaining a weekend split on the road. Clarkson, however, was left with a feeling of underachievement after last week’s results in Burlington, VT. Ranked fourth in the national polls, the Golden Knights, guided by second-year co-head coaches Shannon and Matt Desrosiers, had high hopes of continuing their early-season unbeaten streak entering the series against the University of Vermont.
The weekend started off well enough for the Green and Gold at Gutterson Fieldhouse as Clarkson skated to its second straight 4-0 victory by shutting out the Catamounts on Friday. The Knights started out strong again on Saturday, taking a 1-0 lead before the game was two minutes old, but unaccustomed sloppy play, a rash of penalties, and with determined play from UVM caught up to Clarkson as the Catamounts scored three times in the second period and added a late empty-net tally to earn their first ever victory in the series.
Led by senior captain Britney Selina (Thornhill, ONT) and senior assistant captain Carlee Eusepi (Oakville, ONT), Clarkson owns a 4-1-1 overall record and is ranked 4th in both the USA Today/USA Hockey and USCHO.com polls.
The Knights, with a balanced team effort, rank among the best in the country in offense and defense. Junior Melissa Waldie (Newmarket, ONT), named ECAC Hockey Player of the Week for the second time this month, paces the Clarkson offense, which is averaging three goals per game. Waldie, who has at least one goal in five of the first six games, has eight points. Four of her six goals have come on the power play, which leads the nation.
Sophomore standout Juana Baribeau (Amos, QUE) (5-2) and senior transfer Dominique Thibault (L’Original, ONT) (2-5) have seven points each. The Knights all-time leading scorer, Selina follows with six points (2-4). Along with playing a solid role in Clarkson’s stingy defensive effort, which ranks fifth nationally (allowing just 1.33 GPG), freshman blueliner Hailey Wood (Lethbridge, ALB) has chipped in four assists.
Junior Lauren Dahm (Baldwinsville, NY) is once again posting some of the best goaltending stats in the country. The Knights’ starter holds a 1.15 goals against average (7th in the nation), a .943 save percentage (9th) and is tied for the lead in shutouts with two.
Making its first road trip, the University of New Hampshire brings a 5-0-1 record to Cheel Arena. The Wildcats have outscored their opponents 22-6. UNH experienced its first blemish last Friday in a 3-3 tie against Niagara. The Wildcats came back with a convincing 6-1 victory on Saturday.
Boston University, which plays at St. Lawrence on Friday, also enters the North Country unbeaten with a 2-0-3 record. In a weekend series at Wayne State, the Terriers tied the Warriors 4-4 and won 4-2.
Clarkson will be facing both the University of New Hampshire and Boston University for only the second time. Last season on the road, the Knights dropped a pair of 2-1 games to the Hockey East foes on October 18-19.
