Box Score
TROY, N.Y. – Backed by a pair of unassisted tallies from sophomore Ashleigh Moorehead (Clinton, NY/Syracuse Stars AAA), Clarkson University defeated Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 3-0 in ECAC Women’s Hockey action this afternoon. The Golden Knights improve to 18-5-3 and 9-4-1 in the league while the Engineers drop to 11-10-4 overall and 4-7-3 in conference play.
Battling through a scoreless first period, which saw the visiting Golden Knights outshoot Rensselaer, 12-1, Moorehead gave Clarkson the 1-0 edge at the 6:51 mark of the second frame. Off a miscue by the RPI defense, she picked up the puck and sent a quick wrist shot into the lower left corner of the goal.
Moorehead made it a two-goal advantage for Clarkson at 4:49 of the final stanza after she wrapped around the back of the goal, sliding the puck underneath RPI netminder Ashley Mayr (Burnaby, BC/BC Breakers). Mayr, who had tipped the puck away on the right side, was unable to get back into the net to cover.
Rensselaer, which held a 16-11 shot differential through the final two periods, had numerous chances to get on the board, including a breakaway attempt by freshman Kendra Dunlop (Granum, AB/Warner Hockey School), but Clarkson goalie Eve Grandmont-Berube (Drummondville, PQ/St. Laurent College) held strong.
Pulling Mayr in favor of the extra-attacker with just over a minute to play, Rensselaer had several solid attempts, but could not break through the Golden Knights defense. Clarkson’s Marie-Jo Gaudet (Sherbrooke, PQ/Lafleche College) sealed the win with an empty-net goal with just 37 seconds left.
Two of the least penalized teams in the nation, RPI found itself in the penalty box just once, while Clarkson was tagged for two penalties. Grandmont-Berube stopped 17 shots for the win while Mayr posted 20 saves in the loss.
The Engineers hit the road for their next four games, traveling to Princeton and Quinnipiac next Friday (7pm) and Saturday (4pm), respectively. The Golden Knights also return to the ice next weekend with a home-and-home series against arch-rival St. Lawrence.
