GRAND FORKS, N.D. --- The University of North Dakota women's hockey team controlled first period play in Friday afternoon's matchup against Clarkson, but the gears shifted for the remainder of the game, allowing Clarkson to capture a 3-1 victory.
North Dakota falls to 4-5-0 on the season and 4-4-0 in WCHA play with the loss, while Clarkson improves to 8-1-0 (2-0-0 ECAC).
North Dakota came out looking to control the first period, and succeeded, outshooting Clarkson 10-5. Jocelyne Lamoureux (Grand Forks, N.D.) converted one of those shots into a goal at the 7:55 mark to give UND an early lead. It was the seventh time in nine contests this season that UND has opened the game's scoring.
Lamoureux beat her defender on a rush to the net, took a shot, and crashed into the net as it trickled past Clarkson's goaltender Erica Howe. Monique Lamoureux (Grand Forks, N.D.) and Kayla Berg (Fargo, N.D.) were awarded assists on the goal. North Dakota would carry this 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
Gears shifted in the second period, however, as Clarkson controlled much of play and dominated in shots on goal 15-3. In the 9th minute of the period, Olivia Howe made contact with a Hailey Wood's slapshot from the blue line, redirecting it past an outstretched UND goaltender, Jorid Dagfinrud (Sarpsborg, Norway). Shannon MacAulay, along with Wood, each tallied an assist on the goal. The game would remain tied entering the second intermission.
Clarkson's momentum carried into the third period, as the Golden Knights recorded another two goals and held UND scoreless starting with a power-play goal that proved to be the game-winner.
Senior Monique Lamoureux (Grand Forks, N.D.) received a major penalty for checking from behind and a game disqualification seconds before the conclusion of the second period.
Just three minutes into the final stanza, Danielle Skirrow snuck a shot through Dagfinrud's five hole to give Clarkson a 2-1 lead. Erin Ambrose and Brittany Styner assisted on the power play goal.
Clarkson scored its final goal of the game in the 8th minute of the third period, when Jamie Lee Rattray found the upper shelf on a 2-on-1 breakaway. Styner and Wood each tallied their second assists of the afternoon on the game-sealing goal.
North Dakota had numerous power-play opportunities late in the third period, but failed to capitalize, including a 6-on-3 advantage with Dagfinrud on the bench.
Clarkson edged North Dakota in shots on goal 29-20.
Dagfinrud compiled 26 saves in the losing effort, bringing her season record to 3-2-0. Howe made 19 saves and improved her record to 7-1-0 on the season.
North Dakota will conclude the nonconference series against Clarkson Saturday with a start time of 2:07 p.m. at the Ralph Engelstad Arena.
