Clarkson Integrator

Issue date: 11/7/05 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Adam Moncure Clarkson tied RPI in overtime for the first ECAC game of the season for both teams. David Leggio had twenty saves out of twenty-three opportunities in the tie. The Golden Knights had twenty-nine shots on goal for the game.The final score of the game was 3-3.

Media Credit: Adam Moncure RPI scored against the Golden Knights in the second period; however, Clarkson alleged that the goal should be disallowed due to the fact that there was high sticking on the play. The referees decided to keep the goal, which eventually was the key goal to the RPI Engineers tying the Knights 3-3.

The Golden Knights lost sophomore Shawn Weller to game misconduct early in the second period but were able to rally without their leading goal scorer. Rensselaer consistently posted a goal in each period and shut out the Knights in the second period, but Clarkson was able to produce two big third period tallies to move to 0-0-1 in ECAC league play. Each team picked up one point in the league standings as the ECAC standings begin to take shape.

Clarkson had the first opportunity to get on the scoreboard with several open shots just over a minute into play but was unable to convert. Jonathan Ornelas of Rensselaer put the away team up 1-0 just 4:18 into the game with assists from sophomore Jake Morissette and junior Jake Luthi. Rensselaer, on the power-play, patiently swung the puck around the blueline waiting for a prime opportunity. Morissette collected a pass from Luthi on the left side and sent a diagonal pass to Ornelas who was sitting on the right post, waiting to put home his fifth goal of the season. Play continued with Rensselaer constantly looking for a deflection in front of the Clarkson net in order to increase their lead. Clarkson, however, was able to answer with a power-play goal of their own as sophomore Nick Dodge came through with his fifth goal of the season with just under ten minutes to play. Junior Mike Sullivan, after receiving a pass from classmate Michael Grenzy, sent a pass from the right corner to Dodge, who was waiting in front of the net for a one-timer to tie the game. The first period wound down but not without Clarkson thwarting a Rensselaer two-man advantage. Both senior Chris Brekelmans and Dodge were in the box as the Engineers found man after man wide open on the weak side but were unable to convert. Clarkson looked as if they were on their way to a solid game after out shooting Rensselaer ten to two and dodging four penalties in the first period.

The second period saw momentum sway as Ryan Swanson had a shorthanded breakaway stopped by Clarkson sophomore goalie David Leggio with less than eight minutes remaining. Rensselaer then had a goal by Oren Eizenman, but it was negated because a high stick was called prior to the score. Throughout the second stanza, Clarkson had several good opportunities despite committing six penalties and often playing a man down. The time then came, with five and a half minutes to play, when Weller was called for hitting from behind. The five minute major penalty led to a game misconduct call, and the Knights' leading goal scorer was forced to leave the game. As a result, Rensselaer went on the power play, and this time a goal by Eizenman prevailed as the Engineers took the lead 2-1 heading into the second intermission. Eizenman had his first shot deflected and Leggio batted it down, but Eizenman was able to collect the loose puck and put it home. The statistics backed up the Engineers in the second period as Rensselaer out shot the Knights twelve to seven.

With excitement in the air and the home crowd fearful of dropping the first ECAC game of the season, the Golden Knights were able to tie the game with just over ten minutes remaining. Senior Jeff Genovy, upon taking a pass from Dodge, had his shot saved by Engineer net minder Mathias Lange, but Sullivan was able to poke it home for his second tally of the young season. Rensselaer then answered just fifteen seconds later when Eizenman struck again, unassisted as well. Clarkson had one more goal in them to answer Rensselaer's third score. Trailing 3-2 with 5:55 remaining in regulation, freshman Shea Guthrie gave the puck to sophomore Grant Clitsome who, from just inside the blueline, fed classmate David Cayer on the left side for a power play goal and his fourth of the season. Guthrie had an excellent opportunity with less than thirty seconds to play, but the save was made by a sprawling Lange. Time expired as both teams would be granted five more minutes of play in an effort to declare a winner.

Clarkson did out shoot Rensselaer two to one, but neither team was able to capitalize. Genovy had a clever shot through his legs on a pass from Guthrie, but Lange was there to stop it just a foot from the goal line. Guthrie, with a little over three minutes to play, fired a shot from the right side that went through a defender's legs and just wide of the net. With the 3-3 tie, both teams stand at 0-0-1 in the ECAC, while Clarkson moves to 4-2-1 overall and the Engineers stand at 4-3-1.

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