By David F. Pendrys

NEW HAVEN, CT – Yale Women’s Hockey welcomed in the defending national champions, Clarkson, Friday night, and the result was a 4-0 victory for the Golden Knights. Clarkson largely dominated the game, as Yale was often barely able to clear it from their zone only to have an opposing player get it in the neutral zone and start another attack. The Bulldogs also made costly noticeable errors, while Clarkson created so many opportunities for themselves.

Yale’s Tera Hofmann seemed to be doing all right in net, but was pulled after a third goal was scored on her early in the second. Hofmann especially shined during a penalty kill early when Clarkson peppered her with shots and even had a chance right on the doorstep. After Kyra O’Brien came in, she held the Golden Knights scoreless until late in the third period. Hofmann made 11 saves on 14 shots, whereas O’Brien made 27 on 28 shots as Clarkson put up 42 overall to Yale’s 18, all of which Clarkson’s renowned goalie, Shea Tiley, saved. O’Brien also had to fend off a flurry of Clarkson shots during the penalty kill as well. Elizabeth Giguere had a break in on O’Brien late and later had two close shots from point blank range which the Yale keeper dealt with.

Tia Stoddard was the first to score for Clarkson at 10:30 as she was well set up. Assists went to Lauren Lefler and Buffalo Beauts draft pick Savannah Harmon. Harmon had fed the puck across the goal mouth, Lefler then deflected it Stoddard who was on the side of the net, Hofmann wasn’t and she slid the puck right into the net.

Just over a minute later Yale made a bad pass in their zone (4571) which a Clarkson’s Michaela Pejzlova’s snagged and got it to a breaking Loren Gabel who beat Hofmann one on one to notch her tenth goal of the season.

In the opening seconds of the second period, Hofmann couldn’t get the puck covered in her crease and an opportunistic Gabel stole it. In the circus that followed, Elizabeth Giguere put it through.

O’Brien’s performance in net in relief was one of the few high points for Yale. She stopped some of Clarkson’s best throughout the two periods she played. When she eventually did give up a goal it was on a two on one, when Gabel set up Pejzlova during the break swiftly. Giguere also had an assist on the final goal of the game. Other than that O’Brien was steady against the onslaught from one of the nation’s best teams.

With the loss Yale dropped to 1-3-1, and 0-2-1 in the ECAC. Clarkson rises to 9-1-1 and 2-1-0 in ECAC play.

Kara Drexler had 4 blocks, Julia Yetman had 3, Saroya Tinker, and Eden Murray had 2, and Mallory Souliotis, Emma Vlasic, Grace Wickens, and Sophie Veronneau had 1 apiece.

For Clarkson, Taylor Turnquist blocked 3, Harmon blocked 2, and Avery Mitchell, Pejzlova, Ella Shelton, Amanda Titus, Cassidy Vinkle, and Rhyen McGill blocked 1 apiece.

Courtney Pensavalle and Greta Skarzynski had 3 shots for Yale. Murray, Jordan Chancellor, and Vlasic had 2 apiece.

For Clarkson, Vinkle and Giguere led the team with 6 shots each, Pejzlova, and Shelton had 4 shots, Gabel and Harmon only had 3 despite their lethal nature, and Turnquist, McGill, and Josiane Pozzebon also had 3.

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Noticed Plays.

(This is a not exhaustive very imperfect list of noticed plays that might not make the score sheet. It is very possible a player has far more of any sort of play than are noticed in the heat of action. It is what it is. Read these more as a player had “at least” what is noted here. Note the language is a bit stilted, I’m trying to figure out how to make the information flow better.)

Yale

Kirsten Nergaard

Had a noticed zone entry.

Lauren Moriyama

Stole the puck in the defensive end and the team moved it out. Later acquired it in the Yale end again. Also grabbed the puck in the neutral zone to start a Yale move into the zone.

Mallory Souliotis

Had multiple moments in the game where she got the puck and moved it out of the Bulldogs end. Also cleared it on the penalty kill several times. She disrupted a few Clarkson zone entries. And had an interception in the neutral zone.

Emma Vlasic

In addition to her offensive attempts, including zone entries, and keeping the puck within the Clarkson end, she also grabbed the puck and brought it out of her own end.

Courtney Pensavalle

Had multiple breaks including a steal in the offensive zone on the penalty kill leading to a short handed attempt.

Kara Drexler

Snagged the disc many times in the defensive side, and in the neutral zone. She also flummoxed a Clarkson zone entry, and cleared it on the penalty kill.

Kaitlin Gately

She fought the puck out of the Yale end and brought it all the way down the ice. She also had a block during the penalty kill. Gately also got a stick on a Clarkson centering pass to intercept it.

Grace Wickens

Had multiple defensive plays including clearing it from the goal mouth during a penalty kill and exiting the Yale zone with the puck also on a Pk.

Laura Anderson

In addition to whacking the puck out of the goal area, she also fought the puck out numerous times, intercepted a Clarkson pass and moved out of the zone, and

Emily Monaghan

She grabbed the puck several times in the Clarkson zone and neutral zone and also moved the puck out of the defensive end.

Julia Yetman

On several occasions she got to the puck in the defensive end and moved it out of danger. She also kept the puck from exiting the Clarkson zone during an attack.

Jordan Chancellor

Had a break and several zone entries. Also wasted time in the Clarkson end during a penalty kill. Defensively had a steal in the Bulldogs end and moved it out. She also intercepted a Clarkson centering pass.

Greta Skarzynski

On the power play she kept the puck from leaving the zone many times, and had several instances where at even strength she would get to the puck in the defending end and skate it out.

Saroya Tinker

In addition to keeping the puck in the opposing end leading to a scoring chance, she also got to the puck and moved it out of her own defensive end.

Eden Murray

Initiated several zone entries either herself or by passing. But also had numerous zone exits from the Yale side. Also intercepted a Clarkson pass in their defensive zone.

Clarkson

Michaela Pejzlova

She acquired the puck multiple times in the Yale zone and the neutral zone to create opportunities. Her stick handling was on display in the game as well effectively including when she split the defense for a quality attempt. Defensively she also got the puck in the defensive end and got it out.

Ella Shelton

She had multiple zone entries, a clear on the penalty kill, and kept the puck within the blue line to prolong an attack. Shelton also disrupted a Yale effort.

Savannah Harmon

She intercepted a Yale centering pass, and later on the penalty kill intercepted another Bulldogs pass and cleared it. On another PK she cleared it from the goal mouth. She also fought the puck out of the zone and kept the puck within the Yale end during attacks multiple times.

Amanda Titus

She kept the puck in the Yale zone multiple times, and also disrupted Yale efforts several times while killing penalties. This included intercepting a pass and clearing it. She also disrupted a Yale shot attempt at even strength.

Michaela Boyle

Had multiple noticeable zone entries for scoring opportunities.

Taylor Turnquist

Had several entries into the Yale zone including after an interception of the a Bulldogs pass. Also got the puck in the Clarkson end and moved it out. Had a clear on the penalty kill.

Meghan Hector

She kept the puck within the Bulldogs end and stick handled to try to set something up.

Loren Gabel

Utilized great stick handling multiple times to help set up the Golden Knights attack. She had several zone entries, an interception in the neutral zone, and steal in the Yale zone, as well as keeping the puck from getting across the blue line.

Kristy Pidgeon

Skated the puck into the opponent’s end several times and also stole it within their zone.

Cassidy Vinkle

She acquired the puck several times in the Bulldogs zone, also disrupted a Yale zone entry, and stole the puck in her own end before getting it out. Had several breaks in on Yale, and kept the puck within the opposing zone.

Rhyen McGill

Stole the puck in the Clarkson end and moved it up the ice for a scoring chance. McGill also disrupted a Yale shot, intercepted the puck in the neutral zone and skated it in, had a block on the power play, and evacuated it from the defensive zone at another point.

Kelly Mariani

Multiple times during the game she reached the biscuit on her side and moved it out of danger. She also had a steal in the offensive zone. After getting to the puck in the neutral zone during a penalty kill she set a short handed try in motion.

Josiane Pozzebon

She kept the puck from being cleared during a Clarkson power play, had a steal in the Yale zone, and also stole it in her own zone and started it out of the end. Also intercepted an opposing centering pass.

Elizabeth Giguere

She intercepted a Yale centering pass and moved the puck all the way down the ice. She kept the puck in the Yale zone during a power play and at even strength. She had multiple zone entries, and stole the puck from a Bulldog in their end for a scoring chance. She also had a break in on the Yale net, and later on had two tries from right in front of O’Brien. She had a clear on the penalty kill as well after getting in the way of a Yale pass.

Lauren Lefler

She came upon the puck in the offensive zone, also had it in the neutral zone and started it in to the opposing end. She also got the puck in the Clarkson end and moved it all the way down the ice.

Tia Stoddard

Had a noticeable zone entry.