Box Score Box Score

POTSDAM, N.Y. – Freshman Erin Ambrose recorded two goals and two assists to lead the fourth-ranked Clarkson University women's hockey team to a, 6-2, victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), this afternoon in ECAC Hockey action at Cheel Arena. With the win, the Golden Knights improve to 7-1-0 (2-0-0 ECACH), while the Engineers drop to 1-5-1 (0-2-0 ECACH).

Olivia Howe (Moose Jaw, SA/Notre Dame Hounds) got the hosts on the board first, when she corralled her own rebound and lifted it over the left pad of RPI sophomore goaltender Kelly O'Brien (Sussex, WI/Madison Capitals) for her third of the season at 16:15 of the of the first period.

The Golden Knights then scored four straight goals, including one on the power-play, to take a 5-0 lead at 11:13 of the second. Ambrose (Keswick, ON/Toronto Jr. Aeros) had a hand in three of the four, scoring a goal and adding two assists.

Clarkson senior captain Carly Mercer (Exeter, ON/Bluewater Jr. Hawks) scored her second of the season on the power-play to cap the scoring run. Ambrose and junior Brittany Styner (Calgary, AB/Edge School Mountaineers) picked up the helpers.

Rensselaer fought back late in the stanza, scoring goals less than a minute apart. Junior Jordan Smelker (Anchorage, AK/Team Alaska 19U) got things started when she buried a rebound off an Alexa Gruschow (Mechanicburgh, PA/Washington Pride) shot to make it 5-1 at 17: 14 of the second.

Gruschow then made it 5-2 at 18:06 of the second when she redirected a shot by junior Madison Marzario (Prior Lake, MN/Shattuck-St. Mary's) past Clarkson junior netminder Erica Howe (Ottawa, ON/Ottawa Senators) for her team-leading fourth of the season.

The Engineers are back in action on Wednesday, when they visit Vermont for a non-league contest (7pm).