Rachel Bjorgan scored and Emma-Sofie Nordström made 24 saves, but the No. 3 Clarkson Golden Knights skated to a 3-1 win over the No. 7 St. Lawrence University women's hockey team in the ECAC Semifinals on Friday night in Hamilton, N.Y.

The Saints controlled most of the play in the first, applying early and sustained pressure over the Golden Knights.

But Clarkson would score first, as Jenna Goodwin broke out of the zone. The initial shot was fumbled by Brooke McQuigge, but McQuigge was able to corral the puck and passed off to Haley Winn at the top of the right circle, who beat Saints' goaltender Nordström glove side.

St. Lawrence held an 11-8 advantage in shots on goal after the first, but Clarkson led 1-0 after the first 20 minutes.

Early in the second period, Keira Hurry fired an initial shot that took a hard bounce off the boards to the stick of Sena Catterall, who tipped the puck past Nordström for the 2-0 lead.

One minute and 17 seconds later, the Saints brought the game back within one off the stick of Rachel Bjorgan. Sarah Marchand pulled the puck off the boards and found Bjorgan, who went coast-to-coast, deeked out a Clarkson defender and beat Clarkson goaltender Michelle Pasiechnyk five hold making it 2-1.

Nordström kept the Golden Knights from adding a third goal, as she came in clutch stopping a breakaway from Jaden Bogden.

After two periods of play, the Saints led 24-16 in shots on goal.

Nordström continued to keep the Golden Knights off the board, with multiple big saves in the third, including a huge stick save at the 13-minute mark.

With less than two minutes to play, the Saints pulled Nordström for the extra attacker. SLU applied pressure, but unfortunately a turnover in the neutral zone resulted in an empty net goal for Catterall.
St. Lawrence finished the third with a 30-27 edge in shots on goal.

"We jumped out to a great start and couldn't solve Pasiechnyk," said head coach Chris Wells. "We had good pressure on the puck that created a bunch of opportunities. Winn snapped a beautiful goal in to make it 1-0, but we still really liked the way were playing. Our penalty kill and defense did a real nice job throughout the game and Emma made some goal-saving saves to keep it 2-1 after Rachel's goal."
 
"We pressed hard in the third, but couldn't get the equalizer. Clarkson finished off the game, as they have done in this league for the last 12 years. They are always a tough out this time of year."

Nordström made 24 saves to backstop the Saints, while Pasiechnyk finished with 31 for the Golden Knights.

St. Lawrence, who advanced to the ECAC Semifinals for the first time since the shortened 2020-21 season, moved to 27-10-0 on the season, while Clarkson improved to 32-3-2.

"We can build off a lot of our efforts tonight vs. Clarkson then heading into the NCAA tourney," Wells added. "This one hurts no doubt. It is so hard to get to this point each season and we expected to be playing tomorrow. We will take the weekend to get ready for wherever we are sent to play!"

Clarkson will advance to play Colgate in the ECAC Championship game tomorrow at 5 p.m, while the Saints will await the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday afternoon for their fate in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Sunday's selection show will air on ESPN+ at 12 p.m.