Senior center Steve Zalewski (New Hartford, NY) became the first Golden Knight to record four goals in game in over 10 years as he helped to lead the Clarkson University Hockey team to a 6-2 victory over Princeton in ECAC Hockey play at Hobey Baker Rink in New Jersey.
The Knights, who improved their record to 7-3 overall and to 4-1 in ECAC Hockey, open a four-game home stand at Cheel Arena next weekend, hosting Yale and Brown. With the win over Princeton, Clarkson's fifth-year head coach George Roll who also coached seven years at Oswego State, earned his 200th career coaching victory.
Ranked 8th in the nation, Clarkson jumped out to its best start of the season in Saturday’s game, taking a 3-0 lead in a dominating first period effort. Junior Shea Guthrie (Carleton Place, ONT) started the Green and Gold surge knocking in a rebound 3:01 after the opening faceoff. Senior David Cayer (Longueuil, QUE) and freshman defenseman Dan Reed (Walworth, NY), with his first career assist, set up the score.
After killing off back-to-back Princeton power plays, including 70 seconds of a two-man Tiger advantage, Clarkson extended its lead to 3-0.
The Knights, who have struggled on the power-play over the past four games, connected on their first man-advantage opportunity against Princeton to take a 2-0 lead. Zalewski, stationed in the slot, took a pass from the side of the net by senior Nick Dodge (Oakville, ONT) and one-timed in a quick shot for the power-play marker at 14:25. Junior Chris D’Alvise (Mississauga, ONT) also assisted.
Zalewski made it 3-0 knocking in a rebound off of sophomore Matt Beca’s (Mississauga, ONT) shot. Reed picked up his second assist, starting the play with a pass from the blueline.
Zalewski scored twice more in a 2:15 span late in the second to give the Knights a commanding 5-0 lead. At 14:31, Zalewski completed his first career hat trick with a wrist shot from the top of the right circle. Junior defenseman Adam Bellows (Lancaster, NY) picked up his first point of the season with the assist. Zalewski continued his scoring barraged at 16:46 with a quick wrist shot from the slot while falling down for his 7th goal of the season, posting the first four-goal game by a Golden Knight since current assistant coach Jean-Francois Houle accomplished the feat on March 8, 1996.
Princeton got on the scoreboard with Brett Wilson’s goal at 17:21, but Clarkson came right back with freshman Scott Freeman ’s (Whitby, ONT) first collegiate goal with 42 seconds left in the middle frame. Guthrie picked up the assist.
Senior David Leggio (Williamsville, NY) posted 33 saves as Princeton out shot the Knights 35-31. Clarkson was 1-of-2 on the power play, while the Tigers were 1-5 with the extra attacker.
