A three-goal spurt in the final 12 minutes of play lifted Clarkson University to a 4-2 come-from-behind victory over Harvard in ECACHL play before 2,663 fans at Cheel Arena Saturday night. Senior Mike Sullivan (Stouffville, ONT) led the Golden Knights comeback with his best showing of the year with one goal and two assists.
Ranked 10th in the country, Clarkson improved its record to 16-6-4 and moved into a tie for second place in the ECACHL with an 8-3-3 league mark. The Knights play at Cornell and Colgate this coming weekend.
Trailing 2-1 after two periods, Sullivan began the Green and Gold surge with his 4th goal of the season at 7:54 of the final frame. After sophomore linemate Chris D’Alvise (Mississauga, ONT) was denied on a wrap-around attempt, Sullivan crashed the Crimson net and jammed in a loose puck to even the score. Sophomore Shea Guthrie (Carleton Place, ONT) also assisted. With less than two minutes to play, freshman Matt Beca (Mississauga, ONT) gave Clarkson its first lead of the weekend when he took a pass out of the corner by junior Shawn Weller (South Glens Falls, NY) and connected for the game-winner on a rising shot from the right circle at 18:36 for his 8th goal of the season. Junior Steve Zalewski (New Hartford, NY) also assisted. Guthrie sealed the Knights’ first win this season when they trailed after two periods with an empty-net goal with 35 seconds remaining. Sullivan and sophomore defenseman Tyrell Mason (Dawson Creek, BC) assisted.
Harvard (7-12, 5-9) and Clarkson traded goals midway through the first period with the Crimson striking first. At 8:48, Jon Pelle gathered in a loose puck at the top of the Clarkson crease and snapped off a quick shot for his sixth goal of the year.
The Knights answered back less than four minutes later with a power-play goal by D’Alvise at 12:40. With eight seconds left in the man advantage, D’Alvise found the back of the Crimson net during a scramble in front for his 10th goal of the year and third goal in as many games. Sullivan and Guthrie set up the score.
After enjoying four power-play opportunities in the opening 20 minutes, Clarkson found itself in penalty trouble in the second stanza as the Crimson skated on three man-advantages. Harvard came out strong to start the second and had several excellent scoring chances on its first power play, but the Knights’ junior goaltender David Leggio (Williamsville, NY) came through with consecutive stops on point-blank shots to keep the game even. The Crimson finally connected with 11 seconds left in their third power play of the period when Ryan Maki scored from the slot off an assist from Mike Taylor for his ninth goal of the season at 17:19 to put the visitors on top 2-1 through 40 minutes.
Clarkson held a 28-25 shot advantage. Leggio made 23 stops for the Knights, including 12 in the second period. Kyle Richter made 12 of his 24 saves in the third period for the Crimson. Clarkson went 1-of-5 on the power play, while Harvard was 1-of-6.
