Potsdam, NY - Freshman goaltender Kyle McNulty (Wakefield, RI) posted 21 saves in his first career Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) start in goal while the league's leading scorer, junior Mac Faulkner (King City, ONT) recorded one goal and one assist to lead Clarkson University to a 3-2 victory over Princeton University before 2,343 fans at Cheel Arena Friday night.
The Golden Knights jumped out to a 3-0 lead early in the third period, but had to hold off a late rally by the Tigers to extend their unbeaten streak over Princeton to 14 games, including seven straight victories.
The ECAC’s leading scorer, Faulkner opened the scoring with his 11th goal of the season at 7:29 when his shot from in close deflected in off the skate of a Princeton defender in front for a power-play score. Sophomore defenseman Chris Brekelmans (London, ONT) and freshman Mike Sullivan (Stouffville, ONT) assisted. Clarkson (11-9-5, 6-5-2) made it 2-0 at 13:16 when senior Trevor Edwards (Carleton Place, ONT) finished off a rush from line mates, sophomore John Sullivan (New Bedford, NH) and freshman Max Kolu (Tuku, Finland), tipping in a pass for his seventh goal of the season.
After a scoreless second period, the Knights wasted little time in the third to go on top 3-1 when senior Chris Blight (Cambridge, ONT) one-time a shot from the top of the left circle for his team-high 14th goal of the year, a power-play marker at 1:38 with Faulkner and senior Tristan Lush (North Andover, MA) assisting. Just 12 seconds later, Princeton (5-15-1, 5-8-1) got on the scoreboard with Grant Goeckner-Zoeller’s fourth goal of the season on a shot that just trickled over the goalline. At 10:09, Patrick Neundorfer lifted in a rebound, for his sixth goal of the season, while the Tigers were on the power play to pull within one.
The Tigers pulled goaltender Eric Leroux for the extra skater with 1:23 remaining, but could not come up with the tying goal. Clarkson out shot Princeton 29-23. Leroux finished with 26 saves. The Knights were 2-of-4 on the power play, while the Tigers went 1-of-3 with the man-advantage.
Clarkson will host Yale, 5-4 winners at St. Lawrence, on Saturday, at 7:00 p.m., while Princeton will play the Saints in Canton.
