Golden Knights Maintain Defensive Scoreless String

POTSDAM, NY -- Freshman Eve Grandmont-Berube (Drummondville, QUE), pictured, spent the last 94 seconds trying to stop a strong rush from Niagara University and succeeded in denying all of the Purple Eagles' shots as the Clarkson posted its second straight shutout with a 2-0 win in front of 148 fans Friday afternoon at Cheel Arena.

The Golden Knights improved to 3-0 for the first time in the team's five-year history while the Purple Eagles dropped to 0-1. The two teams will face off again at 2:00 pm on Saturday.

Grandmont-Berube posted 20 saves overall, including several in the final minute and a half while Niagara was skating on a power play and added an extra attacker when it pulled the goalie. Grandmont-Berube has yet to allow a goal in two games this season, and the Golden Knights have not allowed a team to score since Wayne State scored with 4:18 remaining in the first period of the opening game of the season, a stretch of over 164 minutes.

Neither team could put together much offensively in the first period. Clarkson was only able to put 10 shots on the cage despite four power-play opportunities, holding a 10-5 edge. The second period was more of the same as the Knights had just eight shots to Niagara's six, several of which came on their three power plays.

Finally, the Knights broke through on their sixth power-play chance in the third frame. Starting the period with the man-advantage, Clarkson ended its scoreless drought 35 seconds in when freshman winger Melissa Waldie (Newmarket, ONT) finished off a pass from sophomore Genevieve Lavoie (Delson, QUE) in front of the net. Sophomore Britney Selina (Thornhill, ONT) also picked up an assist on the goal.

An even-strength goal just over four minutes later when Waldie lifted a shot over the Niagara goalie's shoulder from the left circle to make the score 2-0. Both Selina and Lavoie received assists again.

It appeared as if Clarkson's impressive defensive run would come to an end midway through the third period when the Purple Eagles' Jacquiline Spring took a shot from only 10 feet away in what appeared to be a wide open net. However a quick reaction from Grandmont-Berube maintained the shutout for the Knights when her arm went sailing through the open space to spin the puck out of the direction of the net.

Grandmont-Berube made nine saves in the decisive third period and totaled 20 in the game, while Jill Zelonis made 26 stops for the Purple Eagles. Clarkson went 1-for-7 on the power play and the Purple Eagles were scoreless in their six attempts with the man-advantage.