Sixty-five minutes were not enough to separate Clarkson (2-0-1) and the Wayne State (2-2-1) as the two teams battled to a 4-4 draw in a wild contest at Cheel Arena.
Wayne State’s Laura Monk and Kristi Thome stringed together a few nice passes and Kristy Leng was the beneficiary as she put home the equalizer with under three minutes to play in regulation. Leng’s goal completed the Warriors’ comeback as they were able to force the five minute extra period after being down by two just thirteen minutes earlier.
“I’m proud of how the team fought back,” said Warriors coach Jim Fetter. “We gave up two power play goals that nearly cost us the game. I think we are two evenly matched teams and it shows in the games we played both last year and tonight.”
In a crazy and intense second period that included four goals in a four minute span, Clarkson sophomore and assistant captain Ashley Shaidle recorded her first two goals of the year and assisted on a third to give the Golden Knights a 3-2 advantage heading into the second intermission. Both of Shaidle’s goals came on the power play, as Clarkson went 2-for-5 with the man advantage. Clarkson coach Rick Seeley said he was ecstatic with the power play, and he has every right to be. The Golden Knights have scored two power-play goals in each of their first three games, going 6-23 in that span.
The score may have been even, but for the first time this year, the Knights were on the low end of a lopsided shot differential. Wayne State outshot Clarkson 33-14, but could not muster a fifth and decisive goal against Clarkson goaltender Stephanie Hansen.
“We failed to cash in on a few opportunities and their goalie made some huge saves,” stated Fetter.
Part of the reason for Clarkson’s low shot total could be the absence of freshman star Brooke Beazer. She missed Friday’s game and will also sit out Saturday’s contest with a minor concussion that she suffered last weekend against Union.
“We think she will be able to skate again on Monday and we hope she will be ready to go next weekend,” Seeley said.
Laura Monk, a transfer from the defunct Findlay program, finished with a goal and two assists, and teammate Kelly Zamora contributed a goal and an assist. Ashley King also added a goal for the Warriors.
For Clarkson, Jill Nolan notched her second goal of the year and recorded two assists, and freshman Katie Morrison knocked home her first collegiate goal.
The two teams will square off again at 2:00 pm Saturday.
