Another solid effort in goal by junior David Leggio (Williamsville, NY) and a two-goal outing by classmate David Cayer (Longueuil, QUE) helped to lift the Clarkson University Hockey team to a 4-2 victory over a stubborn RIT squad on Saturday before a crowd of 2,549 at Cheel Arena in the 2,000th all-time game played by the Golden Knights.
Clarkson, which defeated Niagara 7-3 in its season opener on Friday, is off to its best start since the 1999-2000 campaign. The Knights fought off a second-period rally by the Tigers with two goals in the final frame to record their fifth straight victory over RIT.
In a tightly played first period, junior defenseman Grant Clitsome (Gloucester, ONT) put Clarkson on the scoreboard first when he knocked in a loose puck during a scramble in front at 15:53. Senior Nick Dodge (Oakville, ONT) and sophomore Shea Guthrie (Carleton Place, ONT) assisted.
Just 26 seconds into the middle stanza the Knights seemed to take control as Cayer jammed in a wraparound attempt after taking a pass down low from senior Mike Sullivan (Stouffville, ONT) to give the Green and Gold a 2-0 lead. RIT, however, rallied back with two quick scored to tie the game midway through the period.
Brennan Sarazin gave the Tigers their first goal at 1:48 followed by Ricky Walton’s marker at 8:25 to tie the game 2-2 through forty minutes of play.
At 9:54 of the third, junior Steve Zalewski (New Hartford, NY) netted the game-winner as he finished off a perfect feed in front freshman line mate Matt Beca (Mississauga, ONT). Junior Shawn Weller (South Glens Falls, NY) also assisted.
Cayer sealed the win with an empty-net, power-play goal with 17 seconds remaining.
Clarkson out shot RIT 40-28. Leggio finished with 26 saves, while Louis Menard came through with 36 stops for the Tigers.
Both teams struggled with the man advantage as the Knights went 1-of-9 and RIT went 0-of-8 on the power play.
