After a slow first and second period, action heated up in the third period as the Clarkson Golden Knights defeated the Bobcats 3-2 in Hamden.  

The last time these two teams met was one year ago in January in which the teams had back-to-back games at the Peoples United Center, but the most memorable game came on Jan. 23 when Taylor House scored a game winning goal in overtime to help the Bobcats beat the Golden Knights with a final score of 2-1. The Golden Knights ended up winning the following day with a 3-1 victory over the Bobcats.  

The first period of the game featured a lot of back-and-forth action between the two teams and, at one point, Renee Saltness almost got the Bobcats on the board first, but Clarkson’s goalie Michelle Pasiechnyk was there to make the save. 

In the later possessions of the period there were no goals but the matchup itself was even as both teams were determined to strike first. Some incredible saves by Corinne Schroeder kept Clarkson off the board and a Bobcats powerplay was not enough for the Bobcats to get on the board leaving it scoreless in the process.  

Both teams had back and forth battles on the ice as there was a reminisce of hard-fought battles with no scoring in sight. Clarkson’s Haly Winn and Gabrielle David were the only two Golden Knight players to lead their team in shots. It worked out for David as she was the first skater to score in the game with a nice back and forth pass from Caitrin Lonergan to David to push in past Schroeder on the left.  It was a time to celebrate for both as this score marked Lonergan’s 200th career point and David’s 15th goal of the season. 

Clarkson had an advantage with a power play off of a penalty from Bobcat’s defenseman Maddy Samoskevich, but the Bobcats were able to hold off the Golden Knights and keep the score 1-0. At the end of the second period, Clarkson was dominating the Bobcats both offensively and defensively as they led 17-13 in shots.  

The momentum in the third period started off strong for both teams.  

Forward Florence Lessard started off the scoring blitz by shoving the puck to the net making it 2-0 Clarkson. 

The Bobcats still had some fight left in them as Nina Steigauf put Quinnipiac on the board to make it a one-point game, grabbing her ninth goal of the season. 

“I think it’s just believing that we can come back and fight back and show that we have had a few games when we were down, but we never lost faith in that,” forward Lexie Adzija said.  

Shortly after, defenseman Nicole Gosling tacked on another for Clarkson to make it 3-1. 

Just when you thought that the scoring was over, Adzija scored her fifth goal of the season with assists from Kate Reilly and Maya Labad to bring the score within one with lots of hockey left to play.  

With just 30 seconds left to play, the Bobcats went on the powerplay with hopes of taking it to overtime like their last set of games, but the Golden Knights took care of business and handed the Bobcats a 3-2 loss.  

Head coach Cassandra Turner commented on the team’s momentum as they continue into the second half of the season.  

“It’s an important moment for our team,” Turner said. “We haven’t felt a tone of failures and losses this season, but I think how we respond from this is really important.” 

The team, like many others, have faced difficulties when it comes to COVID-19 cases rising and causing game cancellations.  

“I think just staying connected and reaching out to one another,” Steigauf said. “It’s like a family complex that we have, and we support each other really well and get through ups downs schedule changes.” 

“Obviously, last year, there was a lot of adapting we had to do so we are kind of use to it and we are so lucky to be playing games right now so every game you get to play you are excited for,” Adzija said.   

The Bobcats next game will be on the road against Rensselaer Polytechnical Institute (RPI) on Friday, Jan. 14.