Two goals from junior assistant captain Cayley Mercer helped the fifth-ranked Clarkson University Women's Hockey team defeat Union 4-1 on Saturday afternoon in Cheel Arena.

Clarkson is now 23-3-4 overall and 11-3-4 in ECAC Hockey while Union remains winless and is 0-24-6 overall and 0-15-3 in league. Clarkson is now unbeaten in 11 games with a record of 9-0-2 in the span.

"Today was another solid effort by the entire team," stated Head Coach Matt Desrosiers. "We wanted to focus on coming out with another strong game with no let downs to ensure we picked up the two points but to also continue to get better with each game. I thought we did a good job possessing the puck for stretches and also getting on loose pucks and attacking the net. Our focus needs to now shift towards doing everything we can to get ready for a very tough and important road trip coming up next weekend."

After a scoreless first period, Clarkson jumped out to a 3-0 lead with a dominant second period. At 5:42, with the game still tied, senior captain Shannon MacAulay opened the scoring. MacAulay passed to freshman Loren Gabel who lined up a shot from the left side. Gabel's shot was saved, but the rebound fell to MacAulay who buried the second chance.

Mercer scored the next two goals in quick succession. First, at 16:31, on a power-play, sophomore Savannah Harmon took a shot from straightaway. Her shot deflected to senior assistant captain Erin Ambrose who passed to Mercer with Mercer sliding in a shot from the left side of the net. Just two minutes later, Mercer had her second goal on a shot from the right side of the goal, with Harmon and senior assistant captain Renata Fast picking up the assists.

Clarkson added a fourth goal in the third period. After a passing interchange between junior Genevieve Bannon and MacAulay, Bannon slid a pass to Gabel who was all alone near the post of the goal and Gabel knocked the puck in.

Union was able to salvage a goal late in the third period when Jamie Smith stole a Clarkson pass and skated in on a breakaway, scoring with a wrist shot.

Clarkson finished with a 45-10 advantage in shots. The Golden Knights were one for two on power-plays while Union failed to score on its sole extra man opportunity. In her third career start, junior goaltender McKenzie Johnson made nine saves to earn the win while Melissa Black and Leah Patrick combined for 41 saves for the Dutchwomen.

Clarkson will travel to Princeton and Quinnipiac next weekend looking to extend its unbeaten run.