Potsdam, NY – Sophomore goaltender Kira McDonald (Pickering, ONT) recorded her third shutout of the season and second in four games as the Clarkson University Women’s Hockey team posted a 3-0 whitewash of ECACHL foe Vermont Friday night at Cheel Arena.
The Golden Knights improved to 10-12-6 overall and 5-9-1 in the ECACHL. The Catamounts dropped to 5-21-3 and 3-12 in the ECACHL. Clarkson will host Dartmouth College at 4:00 pm Saturday afternoon.
Sophomore captain Lindsay Williams (Mississauga, ONT) wasted little time getting the Knights on the scoreboard as she stuffed in a rebound and forced the puck past Vermont goaltender Kami Cote at the 8:53 mark. Williams’ fifth goal of the season was assisted by Andrea Maluta (Spencerport, NY) and Amanda Dittmer (Chatham, ONT).
The Knights added their second goal of the period when sophomore Christine Bailkowski (Aurora, ONT) lobbed a shot over Cote’s shoulders into the back of the net at the 14:03 mark for her eighth tally of the season. Christina Valesente (Ithaca, NY) and Jessica Cloutier (Parker, CO) each added assists.
Clarkson pushed its lead to 3-0 in the second period with a power play goal from Cloutier, her fourth of the season, as she batted in a deflected shot while she was down on the ice in front of the crease. Katie Morrison (Ridgefield, CT) and Bailkowski each were awarded an assist. Vermont had a chance to close the scoring gap late in the period when they enjoyed a two-man advantage for 1 minute, 45 seconds. The Catamounts were able to muster four solid shots in the time frame, but could not get a shot past McDonald.
McDonald finished the game with 20 saves for her seventh career shutout. Cote stopped 26 shots in net for Vermont.
