POTSDAM, NY— Union scored the first goal of the game shorthanded and kept the game close, but the Golden Knights capitalized at the right opportunities, as the Union College women's hockey team fell, 5-3, at the hands of the Clarkson Golden Knights in Potsdam on Saturday afternoon.

First-year goaltender Bella McKee made some crucial saves to keep the Golden Knights contained throughout and saved 15 saves in the second period alone. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• 7:48 1st (Union 1-0) | Senior Cheyenne Harris got the puck from along the boards and passed it to sophomore Grace Heiting, who skated to mid-ice and gave it to senior Megan Ryan, who was open in front. Ryan's goal, her second of the season, was shorthanded to open up the game's scoring.
• 2:16 1st (Clarkson 1-1) | Kristy Pidgeon had the puck in the corner and got it to Michaela Pejzlova, who shot it toward McKee. Gabrielle David caught the rebound from behind the net and scored to tie the game going into the first intermission.
• 16:44 2nd (Union 2-1) | After Clarkson was called for a roughing penalty, the Dutchwomen found themselves with a two-person advantage for less than a minute. Senior Katelynn Russ got the rebound from classmate Rachel de Perio's shot and scored right in front. Ryan got her second point of the game with a secondary assist on Russ' goal.
• 15:05 2nd (Clarkson 2-2) | Elizabeth Giguere, the ECAC Player of the Month for November, used the Union defense as a screen to get it past McKee to tie the game at two.
• 5:37 2nd (Clarkson 3-2) | Kayla Friesen got the puck from along the boards, and Stephanie Markowski shot the puck from the blue line, and Brooke McQuigge got a piece of the puck upfront to score and give the Golden Knights the 3-2 lead.
• 18:44 3rd (Clarkson 4-2) | Giguere collected her second goal of the game very early in the third period to improve their lead and give the nationally-ranked Golden Knights the win.
• 0:49 3rd (Clarkson 5-2) | Taylor Sawka scored on an empty-net.
• 0:02 3rd (Union 5-3) |  De Perio scored with just two seconds left in the game to add to the scoring, but it wasn't enough to get the win. Senior Ava Reynolds was credited with the assist.

GAME NOTES:

• Clarkson outshot the Dutchwomen by a 43-18 margin.
• McKee made 38 saves, and her counterpart from Clarkson, Marie-Pier Columbe, made 15. 
• Russ' goal in the second period was the 50th point for her career. 
• de Perio led the Dutchwomen in individual shots on goal with four.
• With the conference loss, Union falls to 2-12-3 overall (2-4-1 ECAC).

WHAT'S NEXT:

The Dutchwomen will close out the 2019 calendar year at Messa Rink and will host non-conference opponent Bemidji State University next weekend. The first game of the series is scheduled for Friday, December 13th, with a 3 p.m. puck drop.