Potsdam, NY – A goal in the opening minute of the first period and another in the waning moments of the third period were enough for the seventh-ranked Dartmouth Big Green to defeat the Clarkson University Women’s Hockey team 2-0 in ECACHL action in front of 220 fans Saturday afternoon at Cheel Arena.
The Golden Knights dropped their second straight game to a top-10 opponent and fell to 3-5-2 overall and 1-4-1 in conference action while Dartmouth remained unbeaten in conference at 4-0 while sporting a 4-2 overall mark. Clarkson hosts non-league foe Robert Morris University on back-to-back days next weekend.
For the second night in a row, the Golden Knights couldn’t hold off their opponent in the opening minute as the Big Green scored on their first shot of the game. From just inside the left circle, Sarah Parsons lifted a wrist shot over the glove side shoulder of Clarkson goaltender Kira Hurley (Pickering, ONT) with only 18 seconds expired from the contest. The goal was Parsons sixth goal of the season in six games with Katie Gray picking up the assist, her third of the year.
The Knights held Dartmouth scoreless for the next 57 minutes before the Big Green
pushed their lead to 2-0 when Shannon Bowman took a chance from behind the net and banked the a shot off the skate of Clarkson goaltender Stephanie Hansen (Calgary, ALB) with only 2:38 remaining. Katie Weatherston, who picked up her first assist of the season and 150th career point, assisted Bowman’s third goal of the season.
Despite falling by two goals, the Knights held a large advantage in shots with a 28-15 edge in attempts on goal, including 20-9 over the final two frames. A tough trend for the continued for the Knights as the team has allowed a goal in the opening minute in four of its five losses this season.
Kira Hurley made 10 saves for the Knights before being replaced by Stephanie Hansen when Hurley was injured in a collision midway through the third period. Hansen made three saves in relief. Dartmouth’s Carli Clemis stopped all 28 shots she faced for her first shutout of the season. Neither team was successful on the power play as Dartmouth went 0-for-4 with the man-advantage and Clarkson went 0-for-6 with an extra skater.
