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Clarkson University Athletics

Cote vs RPI
Jim Meagher
1
Rensselaer RPI 11-23-1
2
Winner Clarkson GKC 16-16-3
Rensselaer RPI
11-23-1
1
Final
2
Clarkson GKC
16-16-3
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 F
Rensselaer RPI 0 1 0 1
Clarkson GKC 0 1 1 2

Game Recap: Men's Hockey |

Cote's Late Goal Lifts Knights Past RPI, 2-1

Potsdam, NY – Freshman Justin Cote converted late in the third period and the defense held the opponent scoreless despite an extra attacker for the final 3:28 as the Clarkson University Men's Hockey team advanced in the ECAC Hockey playoffs with a first round victory, 2-1, over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Friday evening at Cheel Arena.

The Golden Knights improved to 16-16-3 on the season and will be on the road for the next best-of-three round in the ECAC Quarterfinals. The Engineers saw their season end at 11-23-3.

Despite the close score, Clarkson had a massive advantage in offensive zone time and was held back mostly by an Engineers defense that spent significant time sliding in front of shots (23 blocked shots).

Not many shots went on goal at the start of the first period and neither team had a true grade 'A' chance through the first 10-plus minutes. That would change when the Knights went on the power play shortly after the media timeout. Almost immediately following the offensive zone faceoff, Ty Brassington took a one-timer from the right dot which somehow was denied by RPI goaltender Nate Krawchuk as he slid across the crease to push it away. Clarkson had several more chances on the power play but most were blocked by a strong defense put forth by the Engineers.
At the start of the second, RPI enjoyed its best opportunity of the game to that point when Ian Scherzer picked up a rebound on the left side only to see Shane Soderwall chip it away with his stick and pad on his right side. A second power play chance for the Knights saw Clarkson once again have several solid opportunities, including two in close by Justin Cote that were stopped by Krawchuk, and another from Bottrill that was blocked by a siding RPI defender.

The scoreboard seal was broken by both teams in the final six minutes of the middle period with the Engineers going on top first. A couple of miscues by the Knights allowed the puck to be quickly sent deep into the Clarkson zone and a fast centering pass from Gunnar VanDamme found Scherzer right on the doorstep all alone, where he was able to convert around Soderwall's stick side at 14:33.

RPI appeared to have the momentum on its side after the first goal, but Clarkson scored less than a minute later. The puck was trapped behind the Engineers' net without the outlet that either Luka Sukovic or Jared Mangan were looking for in front of the net. Instead, Mangan sent the puck out to the blue line on the right side where Tate Taylor was waiting, and he quickly took a shot off the pass that found its way through the RPI defenders and past Krawchuk at 15:32, knotting the game up at 1-1.  

Clarkson almost gained its first lead against the Engineers in the 2025-26 season off an RPI turnover behind the Engineers' net. A slip and an exchange of possession saw Mael St-Denis with a chance from the bottom of the right circle, and his chance beat Krawchuk but could not sneak in as it rung off the post at 7:38, maintaining the 1-1 tie. Although there wasn't a significant disparity in shots on goal through the majority of the third period, the ice was heavily tilted towards the Clarkson offensive zone as the Knights held a 22-7 edge in total shot attempts through the first 15 minutes of the period.

That edge finally paid out for Clarkson with just under five minutes remaining in the contest. The Knights gained possession of the puck near its own blue line and created a 2-on-2 rush going the other way. Justin Cote held the puck going into the zone and waited for a lane to open up. Near the top of the slot, Cote then picked his spot and wristed a shot past Krawchuk at 15:16 with the assist going to Matthew Mayich.

With Clarkson dominating possession throughout the third period, RPI chose to pull its goalie for an extra attacker with 3:28 left in the contest. The Engineers put just one shot towards the Clarkson goal for the first two minutes of its extra attacker stretch while the Knights had three tries at the empty net, one of which went wide, another that was blocked by an RPI knee in the neutral zone, and another denial by a sliding Engineer. However, the last 90 seconds saw RPI put together a solid stretch of offense that kept Shane Soderwall's head on a swivel, but none of the shots truly challenged him and the Knights held on for the win.

Clarkson finished the contest with a 77-33 edge in total shots, though the margin was considerably closer in terms of shots on goal (33-22). Only three penalties were called in the game, with the Knights going 0-for-2 on the power play and the Engineers scoreless in their single chance. Soderwall finished with 21 saves for the Knights and Krawchuk had 31 stops for RPI.




 
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Players Mentioned

Luka Sukovic

#11 Luka Sukovic

F
6' 3"
Sophomore
Jared Mangan

#20 Jared Mangan

F
5' 10"
Sophomore
Matthew Mayich

#21 Matthew Mayich

D
6' 3"
Freshman
Tate Taylor

#27 Tate Taylor

D
5' 11"
Sophomore
Shane Soderwall

#30 Shane Soderwall

G
6' 2"
Junior
Ty Brassington

#44 Ty Brassington

D
6' 2"
Sophomore
Mael St-Denis

#37 Mael St-Denis

F
6' 1"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Luka Sukovic

#11 Luka Sukovic

6' 3"
Sophomore
F
Jared Mangan

#20 Jared Mangan

5' 10"
Sophomore
F
Matthew Mayich

#21 Matthew Mayich

6' 3"
Freshman
D
Tate Taylor

#27 Tate Taylor

5' 11"
Sophomore
D
Shane Soderwall

#30 Shane Soderwall

6' 2"
Junior
G
Ty Brassington

#44 Ty Brassington

6' 2"
Sophomore
D
Mael St-Denis

#37 Mael St-Denis

6' 1"
Freshman
F