Potsdam, NY – Junior David Leggio (Williamsville, NY) made 24 saves and four Golden Knights scored goals in a balanced effort as Clarkson University knocked off third-ranked Miami University 4-2 before 2,025 fans in non-league action at Cheel Arena on Saturday night
The Golden Knights, who completed the weekend sweep of CCHA foes after shutting out Bowling Green 5-0 on Friday, improved their record to 8-5-1 overall. The win over Miami was Clarkson’s first victory over a top 5 ranked team since defeating 4th-ranked UNH on December 7, 2001. The RedHawks, who saw their winning streak stopped at four games, stand at 11-5 overall.
For the second straight game Clarkson jumped out to a quick start, taking a 2-0 lead in the opening six minutes of play. Junior Shawn Weller (South Glens falls, NY) opened the game with his fifth goal of the year, one-timing a shot from the top of the left circle after taking a pass from along the boards by junior linemate Steve Zalewski (New Hartford, NY) at 3:48. Just under two minutes later, sophomore Shea Guthrie (Carleton Place, ONT) connected for a power-play marker with a burst of speed down the right wing, and then using a screen in front wristed in his third goal of the season for an unassisted marker at 5:44.
Miami got on the scoreboard 12 seconds after its second power-play opportunity came to an end when Ryan Jones tipped in a shot from the point by Charley Fetzer at 14:12.
Miami appeared to tie the game early in the second with a power-play tally just 32 seconds in. Referee Alex Dell, however, using the instant replay system for the first time at Cheel Arena, reviewed the goal and waved it off, ruling that the puck was kicked in. The RedHawks made no mistakes on their next power-play opportunity and tied the game at 2-2 with Nino Musitelli’s second goal of the year at 6:03.
Just 66 seconds later, however, Clarkson regained the lead as senior Brodie Rutherglen (Trail, BC) took a pass from classmate Max Kolu (Turku, Finland) and tallied his third goal of the weekend and fourth of the season. Sophomore defenseman Adam Bellows (Lancaster, NY) set up the play with a clearing pass out of the zone to Kolu at center ice.
With less than three minutes to play in the period, Zalewski put the Green and Gold on top 4-2. Clarkson’s leading scorer, Zalewski controlled the puck along the right boards, slipped by a Miami defenseman and then snapped off a wrist shot from the top of the right circle just under the crossbar for his 10th goal of the season at 17:42. Weller and Bellows assisted.
Clarkson did not rest on its lead out shooting the RedHawks 13-3 over the final 20 minutes in a scoreless third period.
For the game, the Knights out shot Miami 29-26. Clarkson was 1-of-5 on the power play and killed off five of Miami’s six power-play opportunities.
Clarkson returns to ECAC Hockey League play next weekend at Yale and Brown.
