Clarkson Jumps on Saints Early, Wins 4-1

by: 

Tara Freeman

Kyle Flanagan chases the puck in Wednesday's game against Clarkson

Dec. 5: St. Lawrence University's men's hockey team dug itself a first period hole and was unable to extricate itself on Wednesday night, dropping a 4-1 decision to arch-rival Clarkson in the first of two meetings between the two teams in a four day span.

This one had a little sting to it, however, as it cost the Saints in the league standings and denied an opportunity to reach the 1,000 win milestone in program history. Clarkson has now won five of the last six in the rivalry and five straight in league play, improving to 3-7-5 overall and 3-3-1 in league play. The Saints, who will meet the Knights again on Saturday at 7:30 in Lake Placid, fall to 7-6-2 overall and 1-4-2 in league play.

The Knights dominated the first period, outshooting SLU 15-8 and scoring a pair of goals. While the Saints took the play to Clarkson in the second, they missed several wide open nets and couldn't collect a couple of juicy rebounds.

Clarkson opened the scoring 6:01 into the first period as Frederick went hard to the net and while Matt Weninger made the initial stop with a pad at the post, Frederick was able to control his own rebound and tuck it back past the Saint goalie with Jeff DiNallo and James Howden assisting. It went to 2-0 just under ten minutes later as Frederick was credited with his second of the night when he tipped defenseman Andrew Himelson's shot from the point past Weninger.

St. Lawrence dominated the second period, outshooting Clarkson 8-0 in the first seven minutes, but while the Saints had a 17-6 edge in second period shots, Clarkson came away with the period's only goal. The Saints committed a turnover in the neutral zone and sophomore win Joe Zarbo went in alone on Weninger, scoring his sixth of the year unassisted at 12:19 to make it a 3-0 game.

The Saints got back into it with a power play goal 4:27 into the third period as senior defenseman George Hughes took a shot which banked off the end boards and into the net off Clarkson goalie Greg Lewis' pads with Justin Baker and Greg Carey assisting, but the Saints could not get closer and Clarkson freshman Simon Bessette put a lid on it with his third goal of the year off a two-on-one rush with Frederick with 3:34 to play.

Lewis made 34 saves for the win while Weninger finished with 27 for the Saints who had a 35-31 edge in shots.