After combining for 11 goals in last weekend’ sweep in non-league play, the Clarkson University Hockey team resumed ECAC Hockey League action on Friday by suffering a 5-0 loss to Union College in Schenectady, NY.
The Dutchmen gained a measure of revenge against the Golden Knights for last year’s postseason playoff loss at Messa Rink by handing Clarkson its first shutout in their 37-game series.
Clarkson, which entered the weekend with the number-one ranked offense in the ECACHL, falls to 12-7-2 overall and to 5-3-1 in the conference. The Knights, ranked 13th in the ntaion, will look to get back on the winning track as they try to snap a five-game winless stretch (0-4-1) against Rensselaer when they faceoff against the Engineers in Troy on Saturday at 7:00 pm. Clarkson has been shutout in its last two league games.
Union (11-8-4, 4-3-2) jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead against the Knights and could have added more in the opening 20 minutes if not for some big saves by Clarkson sophomore goaltender David Leggio (Williamsville, NY). The Dutchmen capitalized on a high bounce off the end boards that pop right over the Knights’ goal where Chris Potts batted it in over the glove-side shoulder of Leggio just 14 seconds in. At 2:33, Union scored again when Scott Brady broke free at the blueline and beat Leggio with a shot from in tight.
The Dutchmen struck again early in the second as T.J. Fox tallied on a 4-on-3 power play to give Union a 3-0 lead 73 seconds into the middle frame.
With seven minutes remaining in the third, Clarkson pulled Leggio for the extra attacker, but Union scored twice into the empty net, including their last goal with 4.4 left, to improve their home record to 7-0-4.
The Dutchmen held a slight 34-33 shot advantage. Leggio finished with 29 saves, while Union’s Kris Mayotte set a new school record for shutouts with five.
In a penalty-filled contest, Clarkson was 0-of-11 on the power play, while the Dutchmen were 1-of-11 with the man advantage.
