St. Lawrence built a 2-0 lead through two periods with goals in the first minute of each frame by first-year Kayla Nielsen and sophomore Hannah Miller, but No. 5 Clarkson stormed back with a three-goal third en route to a 3-2 win at Appleton on Saturday afternoon.

"That was another exciting game at Appleton," Head Coach Chris Wells said.  "We had great fan support and both teams were able to give the fans an 'edge of the seat' game. We certainly got better this weekend playing Clarkson.  They make you earn every inch of ice out there."

Nielsen got things started for the Saints just 11 seconds into the game as she netted her first collegiate goal after stuffing the rebound from a Kailee Heidersbach shot under the pads of Clarkson netminder Shea Tiley. The play started with Nielsen winning the opening draw back to senior captain Amanda Boulier, who played it forward to Heidersbach as the Saints entered the Clarkson zone. Tiley made the initial save on Heidersbach and Nielsen crashed the net hard for the finish.

"The early goal gave us a big lift, just what we needed after the game on Friday," Wells said. "This time of year is great for creating team identity and we are certainly doing that with this group."

In the second period, it was Miller who found the net for St. Lawrence 58 seconds in for her first of the season. She found the puck on the left post after a scrum in front and lifted it over the glove of Tiley to push the St. Lawrence lead to 2-0. Brooke Webster and Kennedy Marchment picked up assists on the play.

The Saints would carry the 2-0 lead into the third period, despite being outshot a combined 32-19 through the first 40 minutes. First-year goaltender Sonjia Shelly, who made her second straight start for Coach Wells and the Saints, finished with a career-high 43 saves in the contest.

"Clarkson was once again strong on pucks and caused plenty of turnovers," Wells said.  "We did a better job protecting the puck tonight and creating chances."

The visitors cracked onto the scoreboard with a goal by Savannah Harmon at the 2:58 mark of the third period, and would later tie the game on Cayley Mercer tally midway through. With just over three minutes to play in regulation, it was Rhyen McGill who scored the eventual game-winning goal for the Golden Knights, giving them a 3-2 lead.

The Saints had seemingly tied the game with 29 seconds remaining in regulation, but after a lengthy review the officials ruled no goal and Clarkson was able to close it out.

St. Lawrence is now 0-3-1 on the season, while Clarkson improves to 2-0. Shea Tiley made 27 stops for the Golden Knights on Saturday.

The Saints will continue the non-conference portion of their schedule against another top-five team next week when they travel to No. 2 Boston College for a Sunday-Monday series in Chestnut Hill, Mass. on Oct. 11 and 12. Both games are scheduled for 1:00 p.m.