Potsdam, NY – Needing a win to extend its season, the Clarkson University Women’s Hockey team stepped up its defensive effort by putting in a strong effort to deny every shot, and that attitude pushed the Golden Knights to a 2-1 victory over Quinnipiac in game-two of the best-of-three games ECAC Hockey Quarterfinal series Saturday afternoon at Cheel Arena.

The Golden Knights improved to 22-9-5 overall on the season, and Quinnipiac moved to 18-15-2. The two teams will play in an elimination game starting at 4:00 pm on Sunday.

The Knights came out with a solid defensive effort and a renewed sense of purpose in the first period, holding Quinnipiac to just two shots on goal and only five shots overall, maintaining possession at center ice or in the Bobcats’ end. Quinnipiac wasn’t nearly as stingy, but it, too, controlled the opposition’s offense to minimal scoring chances. One of those scoring chances turned into a goal for the Golden Knights midway through the period. Gabrielle Kosziwka (Limehouse, ONT) had the puck in the right circle and sent the puck into a scrum in front of the crease. There, Danielle Skirrow (Trenton, ONT) was able to beat Quinnipiac goalie Victoria Vigilanti and some Bobcat defenders to give Clarkson its first lead of the series at 11:55. Along with Kosziwka, Jamie Lee Rattray (Kanata, ONT) was awarded an assist.

In the second period, Clarkson tacked on another goal as Rattray took a shot from the top of the left circle that skidded across the ice to the far post. Initially, it appeared as if Rattray would only get an assist, as Kosziwka was sitting on the post waiting for the puck, but it snuck just inside the post for an unassisted marker, Rattray’s 19th goal of the year, at 3:33.

Several penalties provided a lot of action in the second period with plenty of shots, but Clarkson’s defense continued to sacrifice itself to keep the pucks from getting anywhere close to the goal. The Knights blocked nine shots in the second period, limiting Quinnipiac’s shots on goal to just five. One of those was a truly impressive stop by Erica Howe (Ottawa, ONT). Kelly Babstock slid unimpeded across the slot and Howe appeared to slip. Just as Babstock was ready to score into a virtually unguarded net, Howe stuck out a glove and snatched the wrister out of midair, maintaining Clarkson’s two-goal advantage.

Late in the period, a combination of odd plays had the score appearing as if it would change twice, but the alteration to the scoreboard would be unnecessary. Carly Mercer (Exeter, ONT) slapped a shot on net that Vigilanti stopped, but Juana Baribeau (Amos, QUE) poked in the loose puck for what appeared to be a goal. However, the score was waved off as a slashing penalty was called on Mercer. With the Bobcats now up a skater on the power play, they quickly took advantage with defensemen Regan Boulton slapping a shot on to the Clarkson cage just 20 seconds into the power play. Once again, what appeared to be a score was not, as the puck kicked off the crossbar, and the Knights were able to kill off the penalty, keeping the score 2-0 at the second intermission.

With only one shot on goal in the first seven minutes of the third period, Quinnipiac took on a more patient approach when it went on the power play, and the style worked. The Clarkson defense sat in its zone, waiting to react to a shot, but the Bobcats softly passed the puck around before Erica Uden Johansson measured up a shot from the top of the right circle and wristed in a shot to the glove side of Howe at 7:33. Nicole Kosta and Breann Frykas each picked up assists on the goal.

For the final 12 minutes of action, both teams had a few chances, but it wasn’t until the final minute that the pressure was really on for each squad. The Bobcats pulled their goaltender for the extra attacker, and it didn’t take long for them to get a shot, but Juana Baribeau deflected a shot from the point and then skated off with either an injury or some chipped equipment. The Bobcats had another shot blocked 30 seconds later, and in the waning moments a last ditch effort from center ice by Jordan Elkins was denied as the Knights held on for the victory.

Howe finished with 14 saves and Vigilanti made 21 stops for Quinnipiac, as Clarkson had a 23-15 shot advantage. Clarkson went scoreless in four power-play chances, while the Bobcats were 1-for-6.