Clarkson continued its hot start with a 4-1 win over the Quinnipiac Bobcats. The Golden Knights are 11-2-0 overall and 5-0-0 in conference so far this season. Jamie Lee Rattray lead the way for the Golden Knights with three goals, including an empty-netter.
“She’s really trying to focus on improving her defensive game,” Clarkson co-head coach Matt Desrosiers said. “That’s been the one thing we have been preaching with her and she knows that. I think that’s the one thing that is really helping her succeed this year.”
Erica Howe provided the defense that Clarkson needed, stopping 21 shots on the night.
“[Howe] will be the first to say that she probably should have had [Quinnipiac’s] goal, but she didn’t let that bother her and she had a solid night,” Desrosiers said.
Quinnipiac jumped on the board first 13:05 into the first period on an Erica Uden Johansson power-play goal. Regan Boulton’s drive from the left point was blocked by the Clarkson defense. The rebound came to Nicole Kosta, who tipped it to Uden Johansson at the right circle. From there, Uden Johansson ripped a one-timer past Howe.
“One thing about this team this year is that even if we get down by a goal or two, they are still resilient,” Desrosiers said. “They just keep going and I think they just have confidence in themselves and they know they are never out of a game.”
Clarkson answered back just four minutes later with a power-play goal of its own. Rattray wristed the puck to the near corner for Carly Mercer. Rattray raced to the slot where Mercer fed her the puck. Rattray sniped a shot just inside the left post to tie the score at one.
“[Clarkson’s] power play is over 40 percent in conference, and we were aware of that and we took a stupid penalty and gave up our 1-0 lead,” Quinnipiac coach Rick Seeley said. “We knew that it was going to be a game; if we were going to win, it was going to have to be 1-0 or 2-1.”
The Golden Knights took the 2-1 lead early in the second period on Rattray’s second goal of the evening. Clarkson worked the puck behind the net, where Mercer fed another pass in front for Rattray. Rattray swiped at the puck and tipped the shot by Quinnipiac’s Victoria Vigilanti.
The Golden Knights added to their lead 10:46 into the third period on Danielle Skirrow’s eighth goal of the season. Christine Lambert brought the puck into the offensive zone and put a backhander on net. Vigilanti could not control the rebound as Shannon MacAuley put a shot of her own on net. Vigilanti made the initial save, but Skirrow rushed in to knock the puck into the net.
Rattray added an empty-netter with two seconds left in regulation for the hat trick and the 4-1 lead.
