Clarkson Suffers One-Goal Loss to Harvard at Cheel
An inability to capitalize with the man advantage cost the
Clarkson University Hockey team on Friday night as the Golden
Knights lost a tight 3-2 ECAC Hockey game to Harvard before 2,241
fans at Cheel Arena.
Clarkson, which saw its winless skid extend to four games (0-3-1),
drops to 6-4-3 overall and to 1-3-1 in ECAC Hockey. The Knights
host Dartmouth, 3-1 winners at St. Lawrence on Friday, in a 7:00
p.m. game on Saturday.
Against Harvard (2-2-1, 2-2-1), The Knights struggled on the power
play, connecting for just one man-advantage goal in seven
opportunities. Trailing 3-2 late in the contest, Clarkson went on a
five-minute major power play with 5:05 to play in regulation, but
could manage just one shot on goal on the extended man
advantage.
The Knights twice overcame one-goal deficits to tie the game 2-2
midway through the third period. With just 11 seconds left in
Clarkson’s sixth power play of the game, sophomore Matt Zarbo
(Grand Island, NY) knocked in a rebound in front at 12:04 for his
second goal of the season. Senior Julien Cayer (Longueuil, QUE) and
sophomore Allan McPherson (Kinburn, ONT) assisted. At 14:55, the
Crimson’s Colin Blackwell was called for a five-minute major
for a hit from behind putting the Green and Gold back on the power
play. Harvard, however, was able to shut down the Knights’
attack and held on for the one-goal victory on the road.
Skating on its second consecutive power play early in the opening
frame, Harvard got on the scoreboard first, connecting on the man
advantage at 6:18. Eric Kroshus tallied his first goal of the year,
finishing off assists from Daniel Moriarty and Patrick McNally to
put the visitors on top.
The Crimson lead did not last long as the Knights came right
back 39 seconds later to tie the game. Senior Nick Tremblay
(Candiac, QUE) took a pass down low from classmate Louke Oakley
(Whitby, ONT) and slid in a backhand shot from the slot for his
team-high seventh goal of the season at 6:47.
Despite three power-play opportunities for Harvard, Clarkson held
an 11-10 shot advantage through the opening 20 minutes.
The game was delayed at 4:25 in the second period when a hard shot
by Patrick McNally 19 seconds into a Harvard power play shattered
the glass behind the Clarkson net, postponing play for almost 20
minutes. After the teams return to the ice, the Knights killed off
the Crimson’s fourth power play of the game, but Harvard was
able to regain the lead several minutes later.
At 7:15, the Crimson’s Tommy O’Regan stole the puck off
a Clarkson defenseman’s stick in the Knights’ zone and
fired a quick shot from the left circle that beat senior goaltender
Paul Karpowich (Thunder Bay, ONT) for his first goal of the season
to give the visitors a 2-1 lead through 40 minutes.
Clarkson out shot Harvard 32-27 and killed off eight of the
Crimson’s nine power-play chances. Karpowich finished with 24
saves. Steve Michalek posted 30 stops for the Crimson.












