Potsdam, NY - Sophomore defenseman Chris Brekelmans (London, ONT) blocked a Mercyhurst clearing attempt and fired in a shot from the top of the circles 1:50 into overtime to lift Clarkson University to a 4-3 victory over the Lakers in non-conference action before 2,609 fans at Cheel Arena Friday night. The Golden Knights received a balanced scoring effort with 10 different players recording a point, including four separate goal scorers, as they snapped a four-game winless stretch (0-3-1) to improved their record to 7-7-4. Mercyhurst, from Atlantic Hockey, falls to 7-8-1. The Knights and Lakers will complete their two-game series on Saturday, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Mercyhurst opened the scoring at 11:40 of the first when David Wrigley finished off a pass in front from Scott Champagne for his team-high ninth goal of the season. Just 26 seconds later, Clarkson’s top two scorers combined to tie the game. Junior Chris Blight (Cambridge, MA) set-up classmate Mac Faulkner (King City, ONT) with a behind-the-net pass into the slot where Faulkner one-timed a shot for his eighth goal of the season. Sophomore Jeff Genovy (Kalamazoo, MI) also assisted. The Lakers regained the lead at 14:55 as Dave Borrelli tipped in a shot by Mike Carter.
The Knights took advantage of a Mercyhurst penalty early in the second to tie the game for the second time. Junior Jay Latulippe (Saratoga Springs, NY) continued his current hot streak knocking in a rebound at the top of the crease off a shot from the point by junior defenseman Ken Scuderi (Bethpage, NY) for a power-play marker at 2:40. Freshman Max Kolu (Tuku, Finland) also help set-up Latulippe’s fifth goal over the past six games. Clarkson went on top 3-2 as senior Jean Desrochers (Dalhousie, QUE) tallied his fifth goal of the season, ringing a shot off the near post after taking a pass across the slot from freshman defenseman Jamie McKinven (Kingston, ONT) at 11:24.
Mercyhurst came back `to tie the game midway through the third, capitalzing on a 5-on-3 power play with defenseman TJ Kemp’s third goal of the year at 10:57.
Clarkson outshot the Lakers 30-22. Sophomore Dustin Traylen (Kirkland, QUE) made 19 saves for the Knights. Andy Franck posted 26 stops for Mercyhurst.
