ECAC Hockey

Mar 2, 2008

Quick Starts Propels Clarkson Past Princeton

POTSDAM, NY -- No. 9 Clarkson got off to a fast start, the held on to defeat the Princeton women's hockey team 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at Cheel Arena in the third and deciding game of their ECAC Hockey Quarterfinal series. Senior Sonja Novak scored for Princeton, which completes its season at 14-12-6.

Clarkson came out flying and jumped ahead with two goals in the first half of the first period. The two goals came 2:18 apart. First Marie-Jo Gaudet split the Princeton defense and scored on a breakaway with a shot along the ice just inside the far post, as she shot across the grain when Princeton junior goaltender Kristen Young was coming across. Genevieve Lavoie and Carlee Eusepi had assists on the goal.

Gaudet made it 2-0 just over two minutes later with her second goal of the game, this one coming on the power play as she knocked the rebound of a Jessica Cloutier shot into the Princeton net. Clarkson outshot Princeton 13-4 in the opening period and held Princeton to no shots through the first 14 minutes of the period.

Princeton played a better period in the second, outshooting Clarkson 11-8. The Tigers finally got on the scoreboard at 11:34 of the second period when senior Sonja Novak notched her 10th goal of the season capping an end-to-end rush with a sharp angle shot that deflected into the net off a Clarkson stick. The puck slid over the line just as a Clarkson player cleared it out, but after a video review, the goal was counted and the score was 2-1. Juniors Katherine Dineen and sophomore Stephanie Denino had assists on the goal.

Princeton continued to pressure into the third period and controlled play for most of the third, outshooting Clarkson 13-2 in the period. Princeton pulled Young late and held possession in the Clarkson zone but could not score and Clarkson held on for the win.

Princeton outshot Clarkson 28-23, but Eve Grandmont-Berube made 27 saves for the win for Clarkson. Young made 21 saves for Clarkson.

The loss ends Princeton's season at 14-12-6 overall.