A remarkable season came to a close for the Clarkson University Women’s Hockey team in the NCAA Quarterfinal round on Saturday afternoon as #2 seed Boston College defeated the Golden Knights 5-1 at Kelley Rink in Chestnut Hill, MA.
A young team, which had to overcome the loss of numerous key veterans from last year’s National Championship squad, Clarkson finished one of the best seasons in the program’s 12-year history with a 24-11-3 record.
Audio NCAA postgame press conference
Boston College used a two-goal effort from Patty Kazmaier Award finalist and U.S. Olympian Alex Carpenter to complete an undefeated 19-0 mark at home this season. The Eagles, who stand at 34-2-2, will face the winner of the Quinnipiac-Harvard quarterfinal game next Friday in the semifinal round to be played at Ridder Arena on the campus of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. The 2015 NCAA National Championship game will be play on Sunday, March 22.
The Eagles took a 1-0 lead at 11:28 of the first period on a goal by Carpenter and then the nation’s leading scorer connected again just 23 seconds into the middle frame for her 37th goal of the season.
Boston College made it 3-0 at 15:55 on Kristyn Capizzano’s tally.
Playing in her school-record 154th career game, senior defenseman Daniella Matteucci (Fruitvale, BC) put Clarkson on the scoreboard when her shot through the point squirted through the pads of the Eagles’ goaltender for her fourth goal of the season at 1:50 of the third period.
Audio Matteucci goal
The Eagles, however, would add a pair of late goals, including an empty-netter with two minutes remaining to ice the victory and move on to the Frozen Four.
The Eagles outshot Clarkson 31-21. Freshman goaltender Shea Tiley (Owen Sound, ONT) made 26 saves in her NCAA Tournament debut. Katie Burt had 20 saves for BC.
Audio Tiley save
The Knights went 0-of-2 on the power play and killed off all four of BC’s man-advantage opportunities.
