Clarkson Takes Down Wisconsin for National Championship
2017 NCAA Ice Hockey Champions (@CUKnights/Twitter)
ST. CHARLES, MO - The Clarkson University Golden Knights are National champions once again! The No. 2 ranked team in the tournament shutout the nations top scoring offense and No. 1 ranked Wisconsin Badgers en route to their second title in program history.
In 2014, Carly Mercer helped guide the Golden Knights to a their first title defeating Minnesota in the championship. Four years later, younger sister and senior co-captain, Cayley Mercer played a vital role in the 3-0 win over Wisconsin which earned her the Most Outstanding Player award.
Since the start of NCAA Tournament play, Clarkson is the only program outside of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association to have won the National Championship. After a thrilling 4-3 win over Minnesota in the Frozen Four semifinals, the Golden Knights were on to the finals were awaiting were the Badgers.
Earlier this season, Clarkson and Wisconsin played in a two game series at Cheel Arena in which the Badgers earned a sweep. In game one, the Badgers stole a 3-2 overtime victory and in game two, a 4-1 win which placed the Golden Knights at 2-3-1 on the young season.
The slump propelled Clarkson to a 30-1-4 finished to the season, their lone loss coming to Cornell during that streak.
Shea Tiley stole the show during the title game, the junior goaltender made 41 saves in the shutout and outperformed 2017 Patty Kazmaier Award winner Ann-Renee Desbiens. Wisconsin outshot Clarkson 41-20 in the contest but could not find the back of the net against Tiley.
Mercer, a Top 3 finalist for the award, may not have won the prestigious award but her two goals help put a perfect end to her collegiate career.
