One goal is all it took Friday night as Clarkson dropped Yale 1-0 to start the weekend off right before 2,380 at Cheel Arena. Despite opportunities aplenty throughout 60 minutes of play it was senior David Cayer who was the only one to break through.
The Golden Knights had a myriad of opportunities in the opening period but were unable to capitalize. Yale sophomore Chris Cahill, meanwhile, nearly put the Bulldogs on the board with eight minutes to play. Cahill fired a shot on senior netminder David Leggio only to have it ricochet off the inside of the right post.
With three minutes remaining Yale had another great opportunity go by the wayside. Sophomore Sean Backman picked off a pass by junior Shea Guthrie at mid-ice and skated in on Leggio. After faking left and taking a shot to the right, Backman was stunned by a sprawling Leggio who preserved the deadlock.
“Both [goaltenders] were very good, their guy was awfully good, we were fortunate to get one by [Blase] the way he was playing tonight,” said Clarkson head coach George Roll.
Yale again threatened to take the lead in the second period on a shot that was reviewed but upheld in the opening minutes. Backman fired a shot from the blue line only to have it deflect off the crossbar and directly down into the crease. Play continued for some 20 seconds before the play was reviewed by the officiating crew.
Clarkson did take the lead with 6:07 to skate on a tally by Cayer. Junior Chris D’Alvise skated into the right circle, beating two Bulldogs and found Cayer camped out on the left post where he converted before sophomore goalie Billy Blase was able to shift over.
“It was one of those games you have to find a way to win, I thought we grinded it out, it wasn’t a pretty one, but we did a great job on the penalty kill,” said Roll.
The third period saw much of the same as neither team found the net despite Yale outshooting the Knights 10-4 in the frame. Leggio finished the night with 24 saves while Blase stopped 25 shots. Clarkson moved to 5-1-0 in the ECAC while Yale fell to 1-2-2.
