Junior left wing Shawn Weller (South Glens Falls, NY) scored two goals and classmate David Leggio (Williamsville, NY) posted 24 saves as Clarkson University completed its first weekend sweep in ECAC Hockey League play at Cheel Arena this season by defeating Yale 5-1 before 2,572 fans on Saturday night. On Friday, the Golden Knights skated by Brown 5-3.
Ranked 10th in the nation, Clarkson won for the third straight game to improve its record to 19-7-4 overall. With four games remaining in the ECACHL schedule, the Knights stand in second place, two points behind conference front-runner St. Lawrence. The Knights host Union and Rensselaer next weekend.
For the first time in seven games the Golden Knights opened the scoring as Weller tallied while Clarkson was killing a penalty at 16:14 of the first period. Weller gathered in a loose puck at center ice and broke free of the Yale defense with a couple of nifty moves and then sent a backhand shot past the Bulldogs’ sophomore goaltender Alec Richards for his first career shorthanded marker.
After putting just three shots on goal in the opening 20 minutes, Clarkson, benefiting from four power plays, peppered Richards with 15 shots in the middle frame, scoring three times to take a commanding 4-0 lead through two periods. Weller recorded his second goal of the game and 14th of the year, a power-play marker at 7:42, when he one-timed a pass from classmate David Cayer (Longueuil, QUE).
Senior Brodie Rutherglen (Trail, BC) snapped out of a lengthy slump with his first goal in 13 games to make it 3-0 at 14:36. Rutherglen took a feed from junior captain Nick Dodge (Oakville, ONT) at the side of the net and snapped in his sixth goal of the season. Junior defenseman Grant Clitsome (Gloucester, ONT) recorded his second assist of the game to start the play.
Less than four minutes later Clarkson’s fourth line connected to make it 4-0. Freshman Jeremiah Crowe (Kenmore, NY) scored from the slot, at 18:27, for his first collegiate goal after linemates, senior Max Kolu (Turku, Finland) and freshman Tim Marks (Brownville, NY) worked the puck free from out of the corner.
Yale (9-13-3, 6-11-1) spoiled Clarkson’s shutout bid with Michael Karwoski‘s fourth goal of the year at 6:48 of the third period.
Sophomore Shea Guthrie (Carleton Place, ONT) closed out the scoring with Clarkson’s fifth goal and his seventh goal of the season, a power-play marker with under three minutes to play. Sophomore Chris D’Alvise (Mississauga, ONT) and senior Michael Grenzy (Lockport, NY) assisted.
Yale out shot the Knights 25-23. Clarkson was 2-of-9 on the power play, while the Bulldogs were 0-of-8 on the man advantage.
