Box Score
TROY, N.Y. – Senior Ashley Shaidle (Hudson, OH/Ohio Flames) netted the game-winning goal with just 13 seconds remaining in the third period to lead Clarkson University to a 3-2 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in ECAC Hockey League women’s hockey action. With the win, the Golden Knights improve to 17-13-3 with a 9-10-2 league mark. The Engineers are now 12-19-1 and 8-12-1 in the ECACHL.
Rensselaer, which needed a win or a loss by Brown to secure the eighth and final seed in the ECACHL playoffs, clinched a berth in next weekend's quarterfinals by way of Dartmouth’s 6-0 victory over the Bears. The Engineers, the eighth-seed, will battle top-seeded Dartmouth in the best-of-three opening round next weekend. Clarkson clinched the seventh seed in next weekend’s ECACHL quarterfinals and will face either Harvard or St. Lawrence.
With RPI leading 2-1 heading into the third period, Clarkson rallied for two goals and the win in the final frame. Freshman Genevieve Lavoie (St. Laurent, PQ/St. Laurent) tied the score at 10:18 when she found the rebound of a Marie-Jo Gaudet (Sherbrooke, PQ/Lafleche) shot and slid it underneath RPI goalie Ashley Mayr (Burnaby, BC/BC Breakers).
Shaidle got the game-winner when she found the puck in traffic in front of Mayr and poked it underneath for her 11th goal of the year.
Brooke Thompson’s (Rochester, NY/Rochester Edge) team-leading 12th goal of the season gave RPI a 1-0 lead at 3:16 of the first period. Junior Kelly Barbera (Nesconset, NY/Gunnery School) earned the primary assist after she corralled a pass from sophomore Nicole McDonald (Ottawa, ON/Ottawa Raiders) in the left circle and sent a shot toward the net. Thompson tipped the puck between the pads of Kira Hurley (Pickering, ON/Leaside Kings) for the goal.
The Golden Knights responded at 4:44 of the second period, tying the game on a goal by junior defenseman Amanda Dittmer (Chatham, ON/Mississauga Chiefs). Standing at the top of the right circle, Dittmer sent a shot through traffic past the reach of Mayr for the power play goal. Kate Morrison (Ridgefield, CT/Berkshire School) and Gaudet were credited with the assists on the tally.
Sophomore Melanie Guillemette (North Bay, ON/Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres) sent the Engineers into the second intermission with a 2-1 lead after her shot from the top of the slot went over the shoulder of Hurley at 13:17. Barbera was credited with her second assist of the night on the goal.
Hurley finished with 15 saves in the win for the Golden Knights. Her counterpart, Mayr stopped 26 shots in the loss.
Rensselaer closes out the regular season against nationally-ranked St. Lawrence at the Houston Field House (4pm). In addition to live stats (http://livestats.internetconsult.com/rpi/whockey/) the contest will be broadcast live on 91.5 FM, WRPI and at www.wrpi.org. Clarkson is also in action on Saturday, traveling to Union (4pm).
