The Clarkson University Hockey team’s roll in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Playoffs came to an abrupt halt on Friday night as the Golden Knights lost to defending ECAC champion Cornell University 5-1 in game one of the best-of-three-game quarterfinal series at Lynah Rink in Ithaca, NY.

 

Clarkson, which swept Union in the conference playoffs opening round last weekend by out-scoring the Dutchmen 13-5, stand at 15-17-2 overall.

 

Clarkson and Cornell (16-9-6) will played the second game of the series at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday. If the Knights win, the teams will play the deciding third game on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. If the Big Red win on Saturday, they will advance to Albany next weekend for the ECAC Championship Tournament.

 

Cornell jumped out to a 3-0 first-period lead, added a power-play score in the second and tallied its fifth goal early in the third frame. Junior Jay Latulippe (Saratoga Springs, NY) spoiled the Big Red’s shutout bid with a power-play marker late in the contest off an assist from freshman defenseman Matt Nickerson (Old Lyme, CT) for his 14th goal of the season.