Knights Fall to Top-Ranked St. Lawrence, 1-0

Kurt Knolle controls the ball against St. Lawrence

Potsdam, NY - Junior midfielder Brenton Jones scored early in the first half for top-ranked St. Lawrence University, but the Clarkson University Men's Soccer team buckled down and denied the Saints of any further scores as the Golden Knights finished off their season with a 1-0 defeat Saturday afternoon at Hantz Turf Field.

The Golden Knights concluded 2011 with a record of 5-11-1 overall and 2-6-0 in the Liberty League. St. Lawrence, ranked first in the nation for much of the season, moved to an unblemished 16-0-0 and 8-0-0 in conference games.

St. Lawrence had a few chances on the Clarkson frame in the early going but most were pushed wide or blocked away until the 14th minute. Sam DeMello awkwardly tapped a pass as he was being defended, not getting much on the ball, and Clarkson defender Curtis Scobie (Orangeville, ONT) was able to get a head on it, knocking the ball straight up in the air. The second touch came to Jones, who was able to make a quick move around the Clarkson defense and then hit a hard shot between the near post and goalkeeper Scott Stuart (Ottawa, ONT) to make the score 1-0 at 13:01.

Though the scoring shot was St. Lawrence's fourth of the first 13 minutes, the game was played somewhat more evenly through the remainder of the half. The Saints were able to possess the ball and bide their time to make runs at the Clarkson goal, content to wait back and take advantage of what was available. The strategy worked much of the time, but the Knights were occasionally able to break the tactics and make quick attacks. Clarkson senior Tobin Boomer (Louisville, KY) was playing up top by himself and was able to take a pair of shots, but both were from well away from the net, though one was hit hard enough that Brian Abernethy was forced to his knees to knock a hard shot down.

In the second half, St. Lawrence again was able to hold on to possession of the ball, this time not allowing Clarkson any scoring chances. The play was mostly in the midfield and away from the net, but the Saints did get eight shots in the second half, including a few off corner kick chances that nearly pushed the score beyond a one-goal differential.

Stuart finished with five saves for Clarkson and Abernethy needed to make just one stop for St. Lawrence. The Saints finished with a 14-4 edge in shots and a 6-0 advantage in corner kicks.

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