Junior Shawn Weller had a goal and three assists and junior netminder David Leggio stopped 30 shots to lead Clarkson University, the tenth-ranked team in the nation, to a 4-1 victory over Rensselaer in an ECAC Hockey League game at the Houston Field House.
Following a scoreless first period in which RPI held a 6-1 advantage in shots, Clarkson got two quick goals and then a third late for a 3-1 lead after two periods. Junior Nick Dodge scored on a rebound at 4:08 and Weller tallied just 17 seconds later to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. Dodge’s goal, a power-play marker, came from the bottom of the left faceoff circle. He was assisted by Weller and David Cayer. Weller’s goal, which was from between the circles, was set up by Matt Beca and Steve Zalewski.
Oren Eizenman cut RPI’s deficit in half when he scored on a wraparound at the 14:21 mark but Zalewski put the Golden Knights back ahead by two goals on a rebound of his breakaway shot. Zalewski batted the puck out of midair for the goal after his initial shot was stopped by Jordan Alford. Eizenman’s goal was assisted by freshmen defensemen Garett Vassel and Christian Jensen.
The Golden Knights added an empty-net goal by Beca with 1:25 left to seal the win.
The Golden Knights, who came in with the second-best power play in the nation, went 1-for-4 with the man-advantage while the Engineers were 0-for-6. Alford made 21 saves in the loss for RPI.
Clarkson (14-5-3, 6-2-2 ECACHL) now owns the longest unbeaten streak in the nation with its streak of 10 games (8-0-2).
Rensselaer (6-11-6, 2-6-3 ECACHL) is right back at the Houston Field House on Saturday when it hosts league foe St. Lawrence in the 30th Big Red Freakout! beginning at 7pm. Clarkson travels to Union for an ECAC Hockey League game on Saturday at 7pm.
