Sophomore Shawn Weller (South Glens Falls, NY) scored his second goal of the game at 2:33 of overtime as Clarkson University overcame a hard-fought effort by Princeton University to defeat the Tigers 4-3 before 2,017 fans in ECAC Hockey League action at Cheel Arena Friday night.
Weller tallied his team-high ninth goal of the season when he redirected a shot by sophomore defenseman Grant Clitsome (Gloucester, ONT) through the pads of Princeton’s freshman goaltender Thomas Sychterz for the game-winner which extended the Golden Knights’ unbeaten streak over the Tigers to 17 straight games (15-0-2), including 10 consecutive wins. Sophomore Steve Zalewski (New Hartford, NY) also assisted on the deciding goal.
Princeton took the early lead, at 11:05 of the first when Brian Carthas tucked in a shot from the near post during a scramble in for his first goal of the year. Just over two minutes later, at 13:06, Weller tied it up knocking in a pass from freshman linemate Shea Guthrie (Carleton Place, ONT) at the top of the crease. Sophomore goaltender David Leggio (Williamsville, NY) started the play with a kick save out to Guthrie to become the first Clarkson goaltender in over three years to record an assist.
The Tigers took a 2-1 lead midway through the second on a penalty-shot goal by Grant Goeckner-Zoeller. Goeckner-Zoeller, who was tripped on a breakaway attempt, slipped a shot through the pads of Leggio for the first penalty-shot goal against the Knights since March of 1998. With just 31 seconds left in the middle frame, junior Brodie Rutherglen (Trail, BC) finished off a 2-on-1 break with linemate, freshman Chris D’Alvise (Mississauga, ONT) for his second goal of the year. Senior captain, defenseman Chris Brekelmans (London, ONT) also assisted.
Clarkson took its only lead in regulation play at 16:48 of the third when junior Mike Sullivan (Stouffville, ONT) capitalized on the Knights’ third power play of the period, connecting off a pass from senior Jeff Genovy (Kalamazoo, MI). Sophomore Nick Dodge (Oakville, ONT) also assisted.
The Knights’ lead was short lived, however, as Princeton tied it 3-3 just 65 seconds later. Brett Wilson benefited from some hard work behind the Clarkson net from Kevin Westgarth and Kyle Hagel to score from the slot for his second goal of the season.
Clarkson out shot Princeton 31-23. Leggio posted 20 saves for the Knights while Sychterz posted 27 stops in his first collegiate action. Clarkson went 1-of-8 on the power play and killed off all six of Princeton’s man-advantage opportunities.
Clarkson, which owns a 7-3-1 overall record and a 3-1-1 ECACHL mark, hosts Quinnipiac on Saturday at 7:00 p.m.
