Late Goal Gives Clarkson Tie with Niagara

POTSDAM, N.Y. -- An uncharacteristic performance nearly doomed Clarkson Saturday afternoon against Niagara University as the Golden Knights were whistled for six penalties in the first two periods, but held on to salvage a 2-2 tie in front of 197 fans at Cheel Arena.

The Golden Knights moved to 3-0-1 overall while Niagara fell short of evenings its mark, moving to 0-1-1. Clarkson will look to get back on the winning track next weekend when it visits Robert Morris University.

Sophomore Britney Selina (Thornhill, ONT), pictured, saved the day for the Golden Knights by scoring with just 35 seconds left in the contest after the Knights trailed for the majority of the game. Clarkson was penalized seven times in the game, the most infractions the team has received since November 3, 2006, a stretch of 31 games.

Clarkson's 170-minute streak of holding its opponents without a goal came to a quick end in the first period as Niagara's Ashley Riggs scored on a shot from just inside the blue line as Golden Knights' goaltender Eve Grandmont-Berube (Drummondville, QUE) was screened and could not see through the shield as the puck flew past. Kara Edwards picked up the assist for the Purple Eagles.

Niagara extended its lead to 2-0 late in the second period when Frances McPhail finished off a scrum in front of the net as the Knights were half way through killing off a two-minute penalty. However, the two-goal deficit seemed to spark Clarkson as the Golden Knights picked up their energy level. Sophomore Genevieve Lavoie (Delson, QUE) won the battle for the puck behind the net and cut the Purple Eagles' lead in half with an unassisted goal on a wrap around with just under three minutes remaining, her team-high fourth goal of the season.

It appeared as if the penalties were going to be too much for Clarkson to overcome, but late in the third frame, the Golden Knights took a time out to prepare their last offensive rush. With the goalie pulled, Clarkson skated six-on-five and took advantage of the extra attacker by scoring with just 34.9 seconds remaining. Selina skated over the blue line and, from just inside the right circle, wristed a shot over the shoulder of Jill Zelonis that sent a pinging-echo through the arena as the puck settled into the back of the net after barely ricocheting off the underside of the crossbar. Brooke Beazer (Kingston, ONT) and Carlee Eusepi (Oakville, ONT) each earned assists on the game-tying goal.

Clarkson finished with a 25-19 advantage in shots, holding small leads in that category in each period (6-5 in the first, 9-8 in the second, and 10-6 in the third period). Niagara went 1-for-7 on the power play and the Knights were 0-for-7 as the Purple Eagles killed off six minor penalties and a five-minute major.

Grandmont-Berube finished with 17 saves while Zelonis stopped 23 shots for Niagara.