Amherst, MA – Specialty teams played a prominent role in Saturday’s Clarkson University Hockey game at UMass-Amherst as the Minutemen defeated the Golden Knights, 6-4, at the Mullins Center. There were a total of 24 power plays in the 60-minute contest with the Knights going 3-of-12 with the man-advantage, while UMass was 4-for-12 with the extra skater.
"Our guys played hard tonight," stated Clarkson head coach George Roll. "I am not disappointed in our effort. It is just frustrating when the game is played like that. To me, that is not hockey. It was a game of specialty teams play and they beat us in that area."
The Minutemen grabbed a 3-2 lead in the first on a pair of power-play tallies and a shorthanded marker. Senior assistant captain Jay Latulippe (Saratoga Springs, NY) scored both Clarkson goals in the opening stanza while on the power play.
UMass, playing its first game of the season, took the early lead with a power-play goal by Marvin Degon at 6:47. Latulippe tied it for Clarkson, knocking in a loose puck during a scramble in front for his first goal of the season and 30th of his career, a power-play marker at 16:20 to tie the game. The Minutemen came right back 18 seconds later to regain the lead as Matt Anderson capitalized on a Clarkson turnover at center ice and broke in alone for a shorthanded goal. The Knights again tie the game as Latulippe tallied his second man-advantage goal off a slap shot from the top of the right circle at 17:22. Freshman defenseman Grant Clitsome (Gloucester, ONT) and senior captain Mac Faulkner (King City, ONT); with his second assist of the game, set up the goal. With 29 seconds left in the opening frame, UMass went on top with a power-play goal by Stephen Werner
The Knights took control in the second period with two goals to hold a 4-3 margin after 40 minutes. At 5:18, Clarkson struck again on the power-play as senior Chris Blight (Cambridge, MA) connected on a shot from the point, one-timing a pass from Latulippe to tie the game at 3-3. Freshman Steve Zalewski (New Hartford, NY) gave the Knights their first lead of the season, with his first collegiate goal. With both teams skating four aside, Zalewski redirected a shot from the point by Clitsome at 17:55. Sophomore blueliner Matt Curley (Madrid, NY) also assisted.
The Minutemen wasted little time in tying the game to start the third with a power-play goal by Anderson at 16 seconds. With just over five minutes to play, James Solon scored the winning goal when his shot deflected in off a Clarkson defender in front for the only five-on-five goal of the game, giving the Minutemen a 5-4 lead. UMass sealed their win on an empty-net power-play score with 27 seconds left.
Junior Dustin Traylen (Kirkland, QUE) made 26 saves as the Knights held a slight 33-32 shot advantage. Clarkson was penalized 14 times for 28 minutes, while UMass was called for 31 minutes in penalties.
