The Union College women's ice hockey team fell 6-2 to Clarkson University in an ECAC contest on Saturday. Sophomore Vanessa Gagnon earned the game-winner, scoring in the final minutes of the second period. The Dutchwomen, ending a three-game roadtrip, move to 3-13-1 and 1-6-1 in conference play. The Golden Knights are now 10-4-4 with a 6-3-1 mark in the ECAC.
Gagnon tallied her second goal of the season at the 5:04 mark in the second frame. The forward sent a shot past freshman goaltender Shenae Lundberg off the back hand to put the Golden Knights up 3-1.
Clarkson struck first, getting on the board at 14:53 in the opening period. Sophomore Jamie Rattray, tallying her 10th goal of the season, dangled in through Union's defense and took a shot at the bottom left corner of the net from 10 feet back. Netminder Lundberg slid over to wedge the gap with her skate, but the puck fired through to put the Golden Knights up 1-0. Sophomore Brittany Styner and senior Katelyn Ptolemy were credited with assists.
Sophomore Mac Purvis almost tied the match when she received a pass directly in front of Clarkson goaltender Erica Howe. Wide open, Purvis took a slap shot that launched into Howe. The two-time ECAC Goaltender of the Month calmy controlled the puck, however, leaving the Dutchwomen scoreless.
The Golden Knights commenced an offensive assualt on Lundberg with less than half the period to go. The rookie came up with several big saves, despite being screened, before Union's defense was able to clear.
However, Clarkson made the game 2-0 with 8:14 left to play. Union junior Rhianna Kurio initially blocked a commanding shot, but Styner and Rattray were able to send the rebound to senior Gabrielle Kosziwka. The veteran quickly flipped the puck behind Lundberg to earn her fifth goal of the season.
The second frame with four immediate shots from the Golden Knights. Lundberg remained composed in net, making a swift glove save on Gagnon. Union responded with an offensive attack of their own mid-way through the period. Senior Lauren Hoffman took a shot at Howe after receiving a feed from fellow senior Lauren Cromartie. The rebound went to the left of the net, and Hoffman trapped the puck there, battling two Golden Knights before sending it up to sophomore Ashley Johnston. Johnston took a slap shot that was blocked by a Clarkson defender. However, the rebound went directly to freshman Kelly McGrath. The rookie took a hard shot that Howe quickly moved over to snag for the save.
At the 6:45 mark, junior Jeannie Sabourin took a shot at a nearly impossible angle to put the Dutchwomen on the board. The forward received a pass from behind the net, and she quickly spun around to the left of the net, nearly even with the post. With Howe pressed up against the side, Sabourin found a slight gap and sent the puck sailing in behind the sophomore netminder to the bottom corner of the net. Freshman Camille Corbin and Hoffman earned assists.
Less than two minutes later, however, Gagnon would put Clarkson up at 3-1. The period ended with a major save coming from Lundberg with 25 seconds to go.
The final frame began with solid chances being generated by Union's offense. Hoffman tipped a puck that nearly deflected in at 13:30, but Howe was alert and sent the puck to the side.
Seconds later, sophomore Stefanie Thomson scored to make the game 3-2. Junior Nicole Bartlett and Purvis set the forward up, and she maneuvered her way to take a shot directly in front of Howe. The goaltender didn't have a chance as the pucked zoomed past her head to go top shelf. It was Thomson's fourth goal of the season.
The Golden Knights responded with less than seven minutes left in the game. Senior Juana Baribeau tallied her sixth goal of the season and 100th career point on a breakaway to make the game 4-2 in favor of Clarkson.
Hoffman nearly made the game 4-3 when she hit the crossbar with a slap shot at 2:48. With minutes waning, Union pulled Lundberg in favor of an extra attacker. Senior Danielle Boudreau sent the puck sailing down the ice to score an empty net goal with 1:35 left to play. Seconds later, Rattray tallied her 11th goal of the season off of a backhand shot past Lundberg to end the game at 6-2.
Lundberg made 28 saves throughout the match, while Howe stopped 25 out 27 shots. The Golden Knights had a 34-27 shot advantage. Rattray tallied three points for Clarkson, while six different Dutchwomen earned a point in the conference match. Senior Dania Simmonds, senior Chelsey Heinhuis and sophomore Maddy Norton played an excellent defensive game for Union, blocking shots and clearing the puck for their offensive counterparts.
The Dutchwomen play their final games of 2011 next weekend when they take on Maine. Union faces the Black Bears on Friday, December 9th, at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, December 10th, at 2:00 p.m.
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