October 20, 2009

Weekly Release: Late-Goal Heroics Earn League Wins

ALBANY, NY -- Six of the 12 ECAC Hockey teams were in action last weekend, taking part in 11 contests with all games being decided by three goals or fewer, including five going into the extra session.  Clutch goals and comebacks were the theme of weekend play earning league wins and ties.

With under one minute left in overtime, senior forward Matt Beca came through with the game-winner to lift the Clarkson to a 4-3 victory over Niagara in the Golden Knights' home opener before 3,135 fans at Cheel Arena Friday night.  The Golden Knights ran their record to 52-0-4 over the past 56 games when holding a lead through two periods.  Clarkson completed the weekend sweep of its visitors as Matt Beca once again sparked the offense netting two goals and sophomore goaltender Paul Karpowich posted 42 saves to highlight the Clarkson's 5-3 win over Rochester Institute of Technology before 3,310 fans at Cheel Saturday night.

North Country partner St. Lawrence also enjoyed a successful weekend earning a weekend sweep with its own high-drama.  Senior captain Travis Vermeulen snapped a 1-1 tie with a power play goal midway through the third period and sophomore goaltender Robby Moss made 23 of his career high 42 saves in the third period to lead St. Lawrence to a 3-1 win over the RIT in non-league action Friday night.  The Saints exploded in the final 30 minutes Saturday night against Niagara rebounding from 3-0 deficit to a 4-3 win to complete a weekend sweep.  Freshman forward Kyle Flanagan scored his second goal of the night with 14.5 seconds to go in regulation to complete the comeback and give sophomore goaltender Robby Moss his second win in as many nights.

Sophomore forward Scott Zurevinski banged home a rebound just 29 seconds into the overtime session against visiting Bentley to give Quinnipiac its third win in as many games this season.  In front of a sell-out crowd at TD Bank Sports Center, the Bobcats' freshman netminder Mathieu Cadieux stopped 25 of 27 shots earning the 3-2 overtime win for Quinnipiac. 

After falling behind 3-1 in the first period, Union scored two goals will less then three minutes left for a 3-3 tie at St. Cloud Friday at the National Hockey Center.  Junior goaltender Corey Milan made 33 stops in his third consecutive start for Union.  The Dutchmen extended their unbeaten streak to three games with a 2-0-1 mark.  The streak would end the following evening, as St. Cloud State picked-up its first win of the season stopping the Dutchmen by a count of 3-1.  Junior defenseman Brock Matheson picked up the goal for the Dutchmen.  

Freshman forward Kurtis Bartliff notched his first collegiate goal as Colgate and 15th-ranked Nebraska Omaha battled to a 1-1 tie, Friday night in men's hockey action at Starr Rink.  It was the ninth time in the last 10 games that the Raiders have played into overtime dating back to last season.  The Raiders were upended the following night as Jeric Agosta scored twice in the third period to help Nebraska Omaha overcame a one-goal deficit to down Colgate 4-1.  The three-goal loss snapped Colgate's streak of 14 consecutive games determined by one goal or less dating back to last season.

Alaska Anchorage used a 25 save performance from goaltender Jon Olthuis to earn the 3-0 victory over Rensselaer, Friday afternoon at the Carlson Center.  The Seawolves scored two first period goals and added a second period tally in the victory of the first game of the Brice Goal Rush.  The Engineers would bounce back the following evening behind sophomore netminder Allen York's 33 saves and freshman Brandon Pirri's first collegiate goal to lead Rensselaer to a 1-1 overtime tie with 17th-ranked Alaska-Fairbanks.

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