Clarkson Integrator

Issue date: 2/25/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Amber Gordon Freshman wing Laura Hart and senior center Jessica Cloutier battle for position in front of the Quinnipiac goaltender Friday night. Hart scored her first NCAA career goal in the second period, and Cloutier scored late in the third. The Knights won 7-1.

The Clarkson Women's Hockey team looked in playoff form on Friday night when they took on the Lady Bobcats from Quinnipiac. Nine different players recorded a point and six players scored a goal as the Knights routed the Bobcats 7-1. With the win the Knights' record improved to 22-6-5, 13-5-1 in league play, and the Knights clinched home ice advantage for the first round of the ECAC playoff tournament, which begins next week.

The game started with a lackluster effort by the Knights in the first period. Whistles and turnovers in the neutral zone prevented Clarkson from providing much pressure. The Knights got their only quality chance of the period with only thirty seconds left. When a shot from the point caused a rebound, the Quinnipiac goaltender was able to sprawl and cover before any Clarkson stick could find it.

In the second the Knights came out firing; the Knights scored forty seconds into the period when sophomore defenseman Carlee Eusepi let a shot go from the point that bounced off the top of the goaltender's glove and sophomore wing Genevieve Lavoie was there to sweep it into the empty side of the net. Sophomore center Britney Selina also earned an assist on the play. Freshman wing Laura Hart scored her first goal of her NCAA career less then six minutes later when senior captain Katie Morrison picked up her own rebound and slid the pass around the sprawling goaltender to Hart, who put the puck into the empty side of the net. Junior defensemen Kimberly McKenney also earned an assist on the play. Clarkson tallied another goal not even four minutes later when Marie-Jo Gaudet picked up the rebound from the Lavoie shot and lifted it over the shoulder of the goaltender. Senior center Brooke Beazer earned an assist on the play. Minutes later freshman wing Melissa Waldie made the lead four as she picked up her own rebound and put it in the back of the net. Off the face-off Guadet made it 5-0 as she skated in and backhanded the puck over the outreached goaltender, into the back of the net. Senior center Jessica Cloutier, and Morrison earned assists on the play.

Freshman goaltender Lauren Dahm's shutout was spoiled late in the second as the Bobcats were able to take advantage of a 5-3 power play and score. Dahm played well, making fourteen saves to earn the victory.

The Bobcats made a goaltender change late in the second but it was no help. The Knights scored their fourth power play goal of the game as Selina was able to put the rebound from Eusepi's shot into the back of the net. The goal was Selina's eighteenth of the season. Waldie also earned her second assist and third point of the game on the play. The Knights would add one more before the clock ran out as Cloutier scored an unassisted tally of her own.

The Knights will be home next week for the first round of the ECAC playoffs. It will be the first time the ladies have hosted a playoff series since they became division one.

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