Potsdam, NY – A first period power-play goal was enough to lead the 8th-ranked Harvard Crimson over the Clarkson University Women's Hockey team 2-0 on Saturday afternoon at Cheel Arena.

The Golden Knights, who entered the weekend ranked sixth in the national polls, fall to 8-3-2 (3-2-1 ECAC Hockey). The Green and Gold will take a break from conference play when they host a pair of games against Providence College next weekend at Cheel Arena. Harvard improves to 5-1 (5-1 ECAC Hockey) on the season.

"Harvard is a good team that uses their speed well in transition and off the rush but I thought we did a good job limiting their chances," stated Clarkson co-head coach Matt Desrosiers. "We were able to generate some good scoring chances for ourselves but their goalie did a great job not giving us too many second or third opportunities. Even though we have been successful creating a lot of scoring opportunities as of late we still need to get a little grittier around the opposing net and take advantage of the chances we are getting. In big games like that against ranked opponents, especially within your league, you need your entire team stepping up to chip in and contribute in their own way and doing whatever it takes to get the win."

The first scoring chance came six minutes into the game when senior Jamie Lee Rattray (Kanata, ONT) took the puck down the left side of the ice and passed across the lone defender to classmate Brittany Styner (Calgary, ALB) who ripped a shot wide of the net.

Harvard got on the board first at the 9:23 mark with a power play goal. Sarah Edney found Dylanne Crugnale behind the Clarkson net at the beginning of the man-advantage who then passed to Mary Parker as she was streaking toward the net. Parker finished with a shot over the blocker of senior goaltender Erica Howe (Ottawa, ONT) to put the Crimson up 1-0 in the first.

In a back-and-forth first period, Clarkson held a slight 7-6 shot advantage over the visiting Crimson. The Golden Knights held a 13-5 faceoff advantage after 20 minutes.

Coming out aggressively to start the period, Clarkson had a chance to tie the game when sophomore Erin Ambrose (Keswick, ONT) took a shot from the point that was turned away by Harvard goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer. The rebound was controlled by Rattray in front of the net who blasted a shot on net but Maschmeyer made the save with her body to keep the Knights off of the scoreboard.

Minutes later the Knights had another chance off of a rebound as senior captain Carly Mercer (Exeter, ONT) tried to sneak a shot by the goalie, but she was also denied.

Harvard had a chance to add to its lead when a Clarkson turnover in its own end led to the puck hanging in front of the net, but no one was there to capitalize for the Crimson.

The Crimson doubled its lead at the 9:49 mark when Elizabeth Parker took the puck behind the net and passed to Gina McDonald in front of the net. Howe stopped McDonald's attempt but Mary Parker was there for the rebound and she beat Howe for her second goal of the game.

A shorthanded attempt by Harvard nearly added to the lead with six minutes to play in the second, but Howe made a sprawling kick save to deny the shot and keep the game 2-0. A late wrap around attempt in the final 20 seconds of the period was also denied by Howe to keep the game in reach.

Maschmeyer stood strong early in the third period to keep the Knights scoreless with a pair of saves through many bodies in front of the net.

The Crimson worked the puck in front of the net with eight minutes to play, but Howe slid over just in time to protect the far side of the net to keep the Harvard lead at two.

One final power play attempt for the Knights ended in multiple scrums in front of the Harvard net, but they could not break through to cut into the Crimson lead.

Howe recorded 17 saves while Emerance stopped all 36 shots she faced to pick up her third shutout on the season. Clarkson outshot Harvard 36-19 on the afternoon but could not come through on any of their six power play attempts throughout the game, capping off a weekend in which they were 0-16 with the man advantage.