TROY, N.Y. – The third-ranked Clarkson University women's hockey scored three first period goal en route to a 4-1 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), on Saturday afternoon at the Houston Field House. With the win, the Golden Knights improve to 17-3-1 overall (7-2-0 ECAC Hockey), while the Engineers drop to 7-9-4 (4-3-1 ECAC Hockey).

Junior Cassidy Vinkle (Belleville, ON/Whitby Wolves) opened the scoring at 5:10 of the first period, carrying the puck up the right side, before backhanding home a shot from a tight angle. The power play tally drew assists from senior Amanda Titus (Stittsville, ON/Ottawa Senators) and junior Josiane Pozzebon (Bourget, ON/Nepean Wildcats).

The Golden Knights made it 2-0 at 7:06 of the frame, as sophomore Michaela Pejzlova (Pardubice, Czech Republic/Stanstead Spartans) one-timed home a centering pass from junior Loren Gabel (Kitchener, ON/Oakville Hornets). A secondary assist went to freshman Elizabeth Giguere (Quebec City, PQ/Lomoilou Titans).

Junior blueliner Emma Keenan (Calgary, AB/Okanagan Hockey Academy) netted the third goal of the period at 8:43, firing a shot from the right point that found its way inside the left post.

RPI got the board just 15 seconds into the second period, when senior captain Shayna Tomlinson (Gilford, NH/Assabet Valley) finished off a 2-on-1 break, firing inside the left post for her fifth goal of the year. Helpers went to junior Makenna Thomas (Hartland, WI/Chicago Young Americans) and senior Whitney Renn (Troy, MI/Little Caesars).

Clarkson answered to make it 4-1 at 1:06 of the second, as Guguere snuck a shot past RPI junior goaltender Lovisa Selander (Sollentuna, Sweden/SDE Riksserian) from the right circle. The unassisted tally was her 15th of the season.

Junior Kira Bombay (Olreans, ON/Nepean Wildcats) came on in relief of Selander following the fourth goal and stopped all 27 shots she faced, including 16 in the third period alone.

The Golden Knights finished 1 for 2 on the power play, while Rensselaer went 0 for 4.

RPI is now idle until January 5 and 6, when it hosts Harvard (6pm) and Dartmouth (3pm), respectively. Clarkson's next contest is January 12, when it hosts the Engineers (6pm), before welcoming Union to Cheel Arena the following day (3pm).