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Princeton University
No. 8 Clarkson
Players Mentioned
No. 8 Clarkson Ends Princeton's Streak but Tigers Clinch Playoff Spot
February 14, 2015 | Women's Ice Hockey
POTSDAM, N.Y. (2/13/15) - Princeton netminder Kimberly Newell made 40 saves but it wasn't enough as the No. 8 Clarkson women's hockey team came from behind to defeat the Tigers 2-1 on Friday at Cheel Arena.
Princeton saw its chances of earning a top-four spot in the ECAC, and a home ice opportunity in the playoffs, take a hit with the defeat, falling to 13-11-2 overall and 11-7-1 in conference play. However, the Tigers did secure a spot in the playoffs and can finish anywhere between 3rd and eighth as all eight playoff spots were determined.
It didn't take long for Princeton to get on the scoreboard as the Tigers scored on their first trip down the other end of the ice. Junior Jaimie McDonell found senior Ali Pankowski at the top of the circle and Pankowski sent a pass through the slot to leading scorer Molly Contini. The sophomore deked netminder Shea Tiley and slipped the puck past the sprawled goalie for the 1-0 lead just 3:20 into the game.
Clarkson would dominate the period according to the shot chart with a 14-3 edge, but it wasn't until late in the period that the Knights would be able to tie the game. Shortly after a slashing penalty was called on Kiersten Falck, Cayley Mercer and Genevieve Bannon passed the puck around the blue line to get some space and Bannon slipped a pass over to Savannah Harmon. From there, the freshman took one step into the right circle and wristed a shot over the stickside shoulder of goaltender Kimberly Newell, knotting the game up 1-1 at the 16:59 mark in the first period.
Newell did a tremendous job keeping things tied in the second period, stopping all 16 shots she face, to add to the 13 she made in the first period.
She had no chance on the go-ahead goal by Cayley Mercer at 6:29 of the third period. Mercer beat Newell one-on-one with a backhanded goal after a poke check by Olivia Howe as two Princeton players converged on a loose puck near the Tigers' own bench.
Princeton had a chance in the final minute of the game when it replaced Newell with the extra attacker. A scramble in front of the net and netminder Tiley down on the ground, a Princeton skater fanned on a shot that would have slid the puck just over the goal line.
Tiley made 10 saves to earn the win for Clarkson, which improves to 20-8-3 overall and 14-3-2 i the ECAC.
Clarkson was 1 for 4 on the power play, while Princeton was 0 for 1.
Princeton faces St. Lawrence tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. The Saints, receiving votes in the national poll, upset No. 5 Quinnipiac this evening, 3-0.