ST. CHARLES, Mo. – Despite not being one of the big names competing in the Women’s Frozen Four, Clarkson left an indelible impression on the hockey world.
Led by a 41-save effort from Shea Tiley and two goals from Cayley Mercer, No. 2 Clarkson had all they needed to bump off top-ranked Wisconsin 3-0 before 3,016 fans at Family Arena.
It is the second national title in four years for the Golden Knights (32-4-5 overall), who last reached the promised land when they defeated Minnesota 5-4 in the 2014 national championship game.
“The (seniors) started their career with a national championship and they end their career with a national championship,” Clarkson coach Matt Desrosiers said. “I’m just so excited and so proud of this team from where they came from the beginning of the year and where we are right now.”
Wisconsin (33-3-4), which held the top spot all season and swept a two-game series against Clarkson in Cheel Arena in the fall, outshot the Golden Knights 41-20 but were turned back by Tiley shot after shot, frustrating the Badgers.
Wisconsin scores but they were robbed by a ref that called penalties based on what he thought might’ve happened, rather than what he saw.
I shot this shot and another clearly showing the goal, but a photographer partner of mine made the capture before the Wisconsin player reached the crease. The puck was already in the net and there was no contact with the goalie.
“The team this year has been unbelievable,” Tiley said. “All three years I’ve been here so far the team has been the best thing about coming to the rink. We really wanted to get this done for the seniors after coming so close last year. This is for them and for all our family and our fans that came, this is for them. It’s a really great feeling.”
Clarkson draw first blood just 27 seconds into the second period with a power-play goal by defenseman Savannah Harmon, a co-captain who took a shot from just past the goal line that beat Wisconsin goalie Ann-Renee Desbiens, winner of the Patty Kazmaier Award Saturday as the best player in the nation. Genevieve Bannon and Ella Shelton assisted on the goal.
Wisconsin had numerous opportunities to score, with forward Sarah Nurse, niece of former Syracuse and NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb, having some of the best chances. Nurse finished with six shots, including a shorthanded breakaway with 45 seconds left in the first period. The shot just went wide.
Midway through the game, the Badgers believed they had tied it. That’s when a shot from Nurse went into the net. But before Nurse took the shot, Wisconsin’s Emily Clark had knocked a Clarkson player down from behind and was called for an interference penalty.
Offensive pressure by the Badgers led to a couple of power-play opportunities in the final period, both on tripping calls to Clarkson’s Shelton. But Wisconsin was unable to provide any serious scoring chances while on either of them.
Rhyen McGill, who scored the game-winning goal late Friday in a 4-3 semifinal win over Minnesota, went on a breakaway with 7:54 left in the game but her shot went off the shoulder of Desbiens.
Mercer made Wisconsin’s comeback chances harder when she converted on a pass from Loren Gable to make it 2-0 Clarkson with 3:04 left in the game. Bannon also assisted on the goal.
Mercer sealed the win with an empty-net goal with 43.4 seconds remaining.
Clarkson’s first national championship team in 2014 was captained by Mercer’s older sister, Carly, with Cayley giving the family a second captain to lead the Golden Knights to a national championship.
“Knowing it was my last game as a Golden Knight you just have to go out and give it everything you absolutely have,” Mercer said. “It makes it a lot easier to be successful when you are surrounded by such a great group of people and a great group of teammates. I honestly couldn’t be more proud of my team right now. It was so special to share it with all our fans and our pep band who drove 15 hours to support us. We are so excited and we can’t wait to bring it home to Potsdam.”
Story by Dennis Morrell, photos by Les.Stockton@prohockeynews.com
e-mail me at dennis.morrell@prohockeynews.com
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