Behind three different goal scorers, a potent power play and a solid outing in the crease by sophomore goaltender Jake Kielly (Eden Prairie, MN), the Clarkson University Hockey team completed a sweep in its opening weekend of ECAC Hockey play by knocking off a red-hot Union squad 3-2 before 3,006 fans at Cheel Arena on Saturday night.
The Golden Knights, who shut out RPI 6-0 on Friday, gained their first weekend sweep at home of the Capital District rivals since the 2008-09 season. Ranked 13th in the country, Clarkson stands at 6-3-1 overall and 2-0-0 in the conference. The Green and Gold take to the road next weekend playing at Brown and Yale.
Postgame audio Head Coach Casey Jones
Clarkson never trailed against Union (5-6-0, 3-1-0) and outshot the visitors 32-24 as they snapped the Dutchmen’s winning streak at five games. The Knights, who were 2-of-3 on the power play in Friday’s win over RPI, scored all three of their goals on the man-advantage against Union, going 3-of-4.
Clarkson built a 2-0 lead through 40 minutes against the Dutchmen.
Freshman defenseman Jere Astren (Helsinki, Finland) put the Knights on top midway through the first with a power-play marker. Astren fired a wrist shot from the point that deflected off a Union defender in the slot and past goaltender Darion Hanson at 12:53 for his first collegiate point. Senior defenseman Tyko Karjalainen (Helsinki, Finland) and freshman Jack Jacome (Caledon, ONT) assisted.
With one second left in the Knights’ second man-advantage of the night, freshman Josh Dickinson (Georgetown, ONT) stuffed in a shot at the side of the net at 14:31 for his second goal of the weekend. Karjalainen and Jacome set up the power-play tally once again.
Union got on the scoreboard early in the final frame with a goal by Anthony Rinaldi at 3:34.
The Knights answered back with a power-play tally from Nico Sturm (Augsburg, Germany). Sophomore linemate Devin Brosseau (St. Lambert, QUE) fed a pass to Sturm in the slot where the center fired in his second goal of the season at 9:37 to give Clarkson a 3-1 lead. Senior defenseman Kelly Summers (Golden Lake, ONT) also assisted.
Union would not go away easily, however, and the Dutchmen made it a one-goal game with Joseph Campolieto’s tally at 14:07.
Union pulled goaltender Darion Hansen with 1:29 remaining for the extra attacker, but the Knights held off the Dutchmen to finish off a four-point weekend.
Kielly made 22 saves and played a leading role in Clarkson killing off all four of Union’s power play chances.
