The one-goal woes continue for the Clarkson University Hockey team as Harvard defeated the Golden Knights 2-1 before 2,436 fans at Cheel Arena Friday night.
Clarkson, which has lost six straight with all the setbacks decided by one or two goals, including an empty-net score, fall to 11-15-5 overall and into ninth place in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) with a 6-11-2 league mark. The Knights will look to get back on track as they host Brown on Saturday in the final regular season game at home this year.
Defenseman Noah Welch scored a goal and anchored a stingy effort as Harvard won its second straight game. The Crimson, who overcame a 1-0 deficit, improved their record to 11-13-2 and keep their hopes alive for a first round by in the upcoming league playoffs with a 9-9-1 ECAC mark.
Junior Jay Latulippe (Saratoga Springs, NY) opened the scoring with his 10th goal of the season on a wrist shot from the top of the left circle that beat Harvard Dov Grumet-Morris high on the glove side just two seconds after a Crimson power play ended at 6:41 of the first period. Senior Rob McFeeters (Woodville, ONT) and sophomore defenseman Chris Brekelmans (London, ONT) assisted.
With 2:05 remaining in the period, Harvard tied it up when Welch scored on a slap shot from the point that found its way through a screen and past Clarkson sophomore netminder Dustin Traylen (Kirkland, QUE) on the short side for his fifth goal of the season. Dennis Packard set up the play winning a draw in the Knights’ zone back to Welch.
The Crimson took a 2-1 lead early in the middle stanza, scoring just five seconds into their third power play of the night. Brendan Bernakevitch redirected a shot from the point by Tim Pettit at 3:15 for his sixth goal of the year after Tom Cavanagh won the face-off deep in the Clarkson zone.
Clarkson pressure Harvard for the tying goal late in the final frame when Traylen was pulled for the extra skater with 1:22 left in the third, but the Crimson were able to hold off the Knights and gain their third win in their last four games in Potsdam.
Harvard out shot the Knights 40-27. Traylen posted 38 saves for Clarkson. Grumet-Morris made 26 stops for the Crimson. Harvard was 1-of-5 on the power play, while the Knights went 0-of-6 with the man-advantage to extend their power-play scoreless stretch to 0-of-30.
