A string of three straight years with a season-opening win came to end for the Clarkson University Men’s Hockey team on Friday night as the Golden Knights fell to the University of Vermont 5-2 at Cheel Arena in their first game of the 2016-17 campaign.
Clarkson and Vermont will complete their home-and-home non-conference series in Burlington, VT on Saturday with a 7:05 p.m. faceoff at Gutterson Fieldhouse.
The Catamounts scored twice late in a 53-second span to break open a tight game to seal Clarkson’s first loss in a season opener since 2012.
Senior Jordan Boucher scored both Clarkson goals. The Knights outshot UVM 37-31. Freshman goaltender Jake Kielly posted 26 saves for the Knights. Clarkson struggled on the man-advantage going 1-of-10 on the power play, including a couple of lengthy 5-on-3 opportunities. The Catamounts went 1-of-6 on the power play.
In a penalty-filled first period, Clarkson fell behind early as Vermont scored just 2:10 after the opening faceoff. The Catamounts picked up a loose puck at center ice during a 4-on-4 situation with Ori Abramson tipping in a pass at the top of the crease for the game’s first goal.
There were 13 minor penalties called in the first period. The Knights were 0-of-6 on the power play, while UVM went scoreless in its four man-advantage chances during the opening 20 minutes.
After a scoreless second period, the Green and Gold tied the game with Boucher’s goal from the bottom of the left circle at 3:58 of the final frame. Junior Nic Pierog earned the assist with a pass from behind the goal line.
Just 73 seconds later Vermont regained the lead with a power-play goal by Brian Bowen. The Catamounts made it 3-1 when Travis Blanieil knocked in a bouncing puck off the back boards at 8:42.
Boucher made it a one-goal came with his second tally of the night, finishing off assists from senior defenseman James de Haas and junior Sam Vigneault at 11:26.
Vermont closed out the road win with goals by Brady Shaw at 16:30 and Jarrid Privitera at 17:23.
Mike Santaguida made 35 saves in the Catamounts crease.
