Potsdam, NY – Proving that records matter little in Division I Women’s Hockey, 11th-place Colgate, with only three wins in 16 games this season and two points in nine league contests, shocked the second-ranked Clarkson University Women’s Hockey team 2-1 in an ECAC Hockey game in front of 368 fans Saturday afternoon at Cheel Arena.

The Golden Knights saw a five-game winning streak come to an end and fell to 13-3-0 overall and 7-1-0 in league play, while the Raiders moved to 4-11-2 and 1-7-2. Clarkson closes out the first semester next weekend in a home-and-away series against Syracuse University, starting with the Knights hosting the Orange at 7:00 pm next Friday at Cheel Arena.

After beating third-ranked Cornell on Friday night, the Golden Knights came out a little flat against the Raiders in the opening period. Though the shot total after the first period would actually favor Clarkson, it was Colgate that had the best scoring opportunities, converting on one early in the opening frame. At the 14-minute mark, Miriam Drubel missed a virtually wide open net, flipping the puck over the crossbar and it appeared as if Colgate’s chance would be over. However, only 30 seconds later the Raiders earned the lead from nearly the same spot. Melissa Kueber took control of the puck behind the net and slipped a pass through the Clarkson defense to Jenna Klynstra in front. With Clarkson goaltender Erica Howe (Ottawa, ONT) unable to slide across the crease in time, Klynstra slid a shot across the goal line at 6:29, her third goal of the season, to give Colgate a 1-0 advantage.

The Knights had their chances later in the period, most notably on a shot and rebound by Jamie Lee Rattray (Kanata, ONT) at the nine-minute mark, but Clarkson finished the period trailing by one. It was the first time that the Golden Knights allowed an even-strength goal in the first period in the past seven games.

In the second period, the Knights dominated to the tune of 17 shots, but freshman goaltender Ashlynne Rando was impressive, making each and every stop. The Raiders also got lucky on a few occasions as midway through the second Shelby Nisbet’s (Wiseton, SASK) shot made it through Rando but hit the post and bounced back out into play. Late in the period a shot from the slot hit Rando near the shoulder and fluttered over the top of the goal and was cleared away a moment later. The best scoring chance came from Rattray as she received a pass near the right circle and skated across the slot with a backhand shot that was denied by Rando with just 13 seconds to go. Clarkson had a 17-5 edge in shots in the middle 20 minutes.

In the final period, Colgate picked up what appeared to be an insurance goal but turned out to be the game-winner when Melissa Kueber redirected a shot from Megan Wickens over the stick side shoulder of Howe with less than eight minutes remaining in the game. A late penalty on the Raiders gave Clarkson some late life, though, and the Knights were able to end the Raiders’ shutout bid midway through the power play. Freshman Erin Ambrose (Keswick, ONT) sent a pass from the top of the left circle cross ice to the bottom of the right circle to Brittany Styner (Calgary, ALB). Styner than took a shot that looked to sneak in under the crossbar, but nevertheless the puck found its way straight down to the stick of Jamie Lee Rattray, who finished off the play at 14:51, 52 seconds into the power play. The goal was Rattray’s 14th of the season.

Despite some solid chances with Howe pulled from the Clarkson goal giving the Knights an extra skater, Colgate was able to hold off the charge in the final minutes to pull off the upset victory.

Rando had an impressive game for Colgate, making 36 saves in the victory for the Raiders, while Howe stopped 18 shots for Clarkson. The Knights finished with a 37-20 edge in shots.