The second-best season in Clarkson University Women’s Hockey history came to an end in the semifinal round of the NCAA Frozen Four as the Golden Knights fell to No. 1 Boston College in overtime, 3-2, in Durham, NH on Friday afternoon.
The Golden Knights closed out a remarkable season with a 30-5-5 overall record. The Eagles keep their hopes for a perfect season intact and will take their 40-0-0 record into Sunday’s championship game at the Whittemore Center Arena against either Wisconsin or Minnesota.
Clarkson, which relied upon an outstanding effort on the penalty kill and a strong effort in net from sophomore goaltender Shea Tiley, held a 2-0 lead midway through the second period over the high-power Boston College squad. The Eagles, who boast the fifth-highest scoring team in NCAA history, rallied back with three unanswered goals, including the winner early in overtime to advance to Sunday’s title game.
The Green and Gold excelled on the penalty kill, shutting down BC’s potent power play on all seven of its chances. The Eagles entered the Frozen Four connecting at 31.7 percent of the power play, second best in the nation. Clarkson outshot Boston College 36-32, including a 16-6 margin in the third period. Tiley posted 29 saves.
Clarkson struck first just 2:27 into the contest on a goal by freshman Rhyen McGill. Junior Genevieve Bannon sent a pass from behind the goal line into the slot where McGill pushed a shot through the five-hole of Eagles’ goaltender Katie Burt for her 14th goal of the season. Sophomore defenseman Savannah Harmon also assisted.
The Knights built their lead to 2-0, scoring again early in the middle frame. Clarkson’s leading scorer, junior Cayley Mercer tallied her team-high 25th goal and 50th point of the season at 5:29 on a rising wrist shot from the bottom of the right circle, which beat Burt high on the glove side. Freshman Kelly Mariani assisted.
Boston College began its comeback when it got on the scoreboard at 14:32 of the period. Kelly Skarupa swept in a rebound from just outside of the crease during a Clarkson delayed penalty.
The Knights killed off three straight Eagles power plays, including a lengthy two-man advantage late in the stanza to keep the one-goal lead after 40 minutes.
Clarkson killed off two more Boston College power plays midway through the third period, but the Eagles finally connected for the tying goal with 3:53 remaining in regulation.
Kaliya Johnson picked up a loose puck in the crease and sent a shot through a maze of players in front that found is way past a screen Tiley and just inside the far post to make it a 2-2 game.
The Knights had an excellent opportunity to end the game late in regulation when they went on their third man-advantage of the period with 2:06 left. Despite intense pressure the Green and Gold could not get the go-ahead goal before the third-period buzzer sounded.
Just 58 seconds into the extra session the Eagles’ Skarupa ended the contest with her second goal of the night and 35th goal of the season on a shot from the left circle.
