By Gayle Simone
Freshman Mia Mucci notched her first collegiate goal 1:47 into overtime Friday night against Clarkson University as NU defeated the Golden Knights 1-0 after skating to a 0-0 tie in regulation.
Mucci nailed the goal past the near post on a one-timer from Crystal Rochon after Marie Desrosiers won the face off back to Rochon.
“That was our third opportunity and we finally took control of it,” Mucci said. “I saw the near post open and I took the shot.”
The Huskies dominated the game, outshooting CU 29-13, but didn’t seem like they were playing their style of game.
“I’m not sure why that is. Part of it may be from coming off a big game like Princeton,” said coach Joy Woog. “Give credit to [Clarkson; they played tough in their zone. They played tenacious and they battled. They played physical and kept us to the perimeter of the rink.”
Mucci noted the team’s youth as a reason for the streak.
“We always work together as a team,” Mucci said. “We’re so young and we’re growing up together as a team.”
Desrosiers, Hockey East’s Rookie of the Week, attributes her play to her line mates.
“We have all played each other’s positions,” Desrosiers said. “We put the puck where we know our line mate will end up.”
Katy Augustyn made her fourth straight start in net and earned her second career shut out and second of the season.
Augustyn’s most challenging save came midway through the second, when Melissa Marshall broke free and had an uncontested shot at the net. Augustyn stood her ground and stonewalled the attempt.
Augustyn also earned Hockey East honors for Player of the Week. She stopped 78-83 shots and went 2-0-0 for the week.
The win extended the Huskies’ unbeaten streak to eight games and they are now 6-1-2 on the season.
NU travels to Durham, N.H. Thursday to face Hockey East rival UNH. On Saturday, UNH comes to Matthews Arena for the home-and-home series.
“It’s two big conference games and we haven’t played a conference game since Providence,” Woog said. “We’re going to have a good practice here and be ready for it.”
Woog is unsure if No. 1 goalie Chanda Gunn will be ready to play.
“Right now we are taking it day by day,” Woog said. “Everything is day by day.”
Desrosiers and Mucci know how important this week’s two games are and they are confident they can come out of the UNH series on top.
“I think we can do it. We have the skill, the talent, the drive, the teamwork, the effort. We have everything,” Mucci said. “We’re going to use it Thursday and Saturday and we’re going to hammer it home.”
