Knights Stunned in Overtime Loss at Yale

Photo by Josh Fogarty

The Clarkson University Hockey team has suffered more than its fair share of frustrating losses this season, but Saturday's 5-4 overtime loss at fifth-ranked Yale rates as one of the toughest defeats ever for the Golden Knights' program.

The Golden Knights, who entered the weekend with a 59-game unbeaten streak (55-0-4) when leading or tied after 40 minutes, suffered their second straight let down in the third period with the agonizing loss to the Bulldogs. On Friday, the Green and Gold held a 1-0 lead through two periods against Brown, only to lose 3-2 in Providence.

Saturday's game in New Haven was a much worst experience for the Knights. Junior Brandon DeFazio (Oakville, ONT) gave Clarkson a seemingly comfortable 4-1 lead over the Bulldogs just 66 seconds into the third period. But three Yale goals in a 51-second span midway through the stanza, wipe the Knights' advantage to make it a 4-4 game through regulation.

The Bulldogs' completed the miraculous comeback with Broc Little's second straight goal, and third of the game, at 3:07 of the extra session to give Yale the 5-4 victory.

Clarkson held a 2-0 lead at 11:13 of the second period on a first-period power-play goal from junior captain Scott Freeman (Whitby, ONT) and senior defenseman Jeremiah Crowe's (Kenmore, NY) second career goal.

The Bulldogs got on the scoreboard at 17:38 of the middle frame on Little's first goal of the contest, but the Knights' came right back with senior Matt Beca's (Mississauga, ONT) team-high 19th goal of the season just 47 seconds later to give Clarkson a 3-1 lead through two periods. DeFazio gave the Green and Gold a three-goal advantage early in the third with an unassisted tally, his ninth goal of the season.

Yale's Denny Kearney started the rally at 12:28, followed by goals from Jeff Anderson and Little at 13:05 and 13:19, respectively.

Yale out shot Clarkson 56-26, but sophomore Paul Karpowich (Thunder Bay, ONT) posted a career-high 51 saves, including 20 in the third period to give the Knights a chance for the upset victory. 

Yale was 1-of-7 on the power play, while the Knights were 1-of-4 on the man-advantage.

At 7-22-3 overall and 3-15-2 in ECAC Hockey, Clarkson closes out the regular season next weekend at Cheel Arena. The Knights host Harvard on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Dartmouth on Saturday at 7:00 p.m.