POTSDAM, N.Y. - Kelly Paton (Woodstock, Ontario) and Courtney Birchard (Mississauga, Ontario) each tallied a goal and an assist, but it was not enough, as the University of New Hampshire women's ice hockey team fell to Clarkson University, 6-2, Friday night at the Cheel Arena.
With the win, Clarkson improves to 5-1-1, while New Hampshire suffers its first loss of the season, falling to 5-1-1.
Despite New Hampshire notching eight shots to Clarkson's nine in the first stanza, the Golden Knights took advantage of early opportunities and didn't waste any time jumping on the board as Juana Baribeau drew first blood in the contest tallying a goal at 5:06 in the first period. Genevieve Lavoie and Dominique Thibault were both credited with an assist on the play.
Following the Clarkson score, the two squads would battle through nearly ten minutes of deadlocked hockey, until the Golden Knights found the back of the net once again, as Melissa Waldie and Baribeau set up Thibault with a goal of her own on a power play at 15:32.
Two minutes later, the Golden Knights would be at it once again, as Britney Selina scored an unassisted goal at 17:58, giving Clarkson the 3-0 edge at the end of the first period.
New Hampshire would come out blazing in the second stanza, compiling 12 shots, while Clarkson tallied seven. The Wildcats would make the most of the opportunities, jumping on the board, as Paton picked up the puck off a pass from Kristine Horn (Utica, Mich.) and Birchard and flicked it into the back of the net at 2:29.
Moments later, the Wildcats would strike again, as Birchard took advantage of the power play taking a pass from Paton and burying the puck past Golden Knights goalkeeper Lauren Dahm at 10:57, cutting the deficit to down to one at the end of the second period, with the score 3-2 in favor of the home team.
Despite the UNH's offensive surge, Clarkson would rebuttal with a goal of its own late in the period, as Britney Selina put the puck past Kayley Herman (Weyburn, Saskatchewan) and into the back of the net at 16:32, giving the Golden Knights a 4-2 lead heading into the final period of play.
Clarkson scored once again in the early going of the final stanza, as Kali Gillanders set up Baribeau with her second goal of the night, as she punched the puck into the net at 4:30.
Nearly five minutes later, the Golden Knights would tally their final goal of the game, as Courtney Olson found the back of the net off a pass from Danielle Skirrow, giving Clarkson the lead for good in the contest.
The Golden Knights tallied 29 shots in the game, while the Wildcats finished with 23. Birchard led the way for the 'Cats with eight shots, while Paton tallied four of her own. Juana Baribeau led the Golden Knights with four shots.
Lindsey Minton (Richardson, Texas) finished with seven saves in the contest, while Herman compiled 16 in relief for the Wildcats. As for Clarkson, Dahm led the way with 21 saves.
UNH returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 24 (3 p.m.) at St. Lawrence. New Hampshire's next home game is Sat. Oct. 31 (5 p.m.) against Hockey East foe UConn. Tickets for all women's hockey home games are available at www.unhwildcats.com or by calling the Whittemore Center box office.