Box Score / Highlights

TROY, N.Y. – Rookie netminder Brianna Piper stopped 26 of the 28 shots she faced, but it wasn't enough as Clarkson University held on late for a 2-1 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in ECAC Women's Hockey action at the Houston Field House.  The victory moves the Golden Knights to 5-3-4 overall and 1-2-1 in the league, while the Engineers fall to 2-7-3 and 0-3-1 in conference play.
 
The two teams battled through a scoreless first period, which saw an even 8-8 tilt in shots.  It was the visiting Golden Knights who broke through in the second period as junior Danielle Skirrow (Trenton, ON/Durham Jr. Lightning) notched her fifth of the season just 2:42 into the frame.
 
Off a faceoff victory by Clarkson, sophomore Shelby Nesbit (Wiseton, SK/Swift Current Wildcats) flipped the puck up to Skirrow at the top of the left circle.  Skirrow shifted around a defender and fired a shot from the mid-slot then went five-hole on Piper (Oakville, ON/Toronto Jr. Aeros) for the 1-0 lead.
 
Rensselaer, which faced an 11-5 shots deficit in the middle stanza had its own chances to score in the frame. Sophomore Jordan Smelker (Anchorage, AK/Team Alaska 19U) had the best attempt after she split the defense into the Clarkson zone and rifled a shot down the slot.  The puck got blocked just inside the right post and ricocheted out.
 
In the final period, Clarkson made it a two-goal lead at 13:56 after sophomore Vanessa Plante (Riviere-du-Loup, PQ/Limoilou Titans) fired a shot from the point that sailed in low past Piper.  Classmate Carly Mercer (Exeter, ON/Bluewater Jr. Hawks) was credited with the primary assist after she collected a quick pass from senior Kali Gillanders (Kyle, SK/Swift Current Diamond) at the edge of the near circle and chipped it up to Plante at the point.
 
The Engineers finally broke through less than a minute later as senior Laura Guillemette (Ste-Marie-de-Beauce, PQ/Notre Dame) deflected a shot in past Clarkson netminder Erica Howe (Ottawa, ON/Ottawa Senators).  Junior Andie Le Donne (Toronto, ON/Durham Jr. Lightning) set up the play as she passed the puck from the far point over to senior Sierra Vadner (Apple Valley, MN/Minnesota Thoroughbreds), who then fired the shot into traffic for Guillemette.
 
Rensselaer tried to pull back into it late in the period as they pulled Piper with 27 seconds left in the frame, but it wasn't enough as Clarkson was able to force it back into the Engineers own defensive end several times.
 
Howe finished with 13 saves for the Golden Knights.
 
The Engineers return to action next weekend with their first league road trip of the season at Brown and Yale on Friday and Saturday, respectively.  Clarkson returns to Potsdam and will host Quinnipiac and Princeton, also on Friday and Saturday.