Clarkson Integrator

Issue date: 1/28/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Alex Brown Senior goaltender David Leggio makes the save against a Union College foreward Saturday night. Leggio had 31 saves in the game as Clarkson defeated the Dutchmen 3-2. Clarkson will play Colorado College next weekend.

The Clarkson Golden Knights capped off the weekend with a tight edge over the Union College Dutchmen. This win put an end to Union's winning streak after beating St. Lawrence Friday night. Clarkson goalkeeper David Leggio proved to be the game's most valuable player, certainly ensuring Clarkson's 3-2 win Saturday night in front of 2,931 fans at Cheel Arena.

The Dutchmen skated up some strong hot streaks, tying up the game twice throughout the game and out shooting Clarkson 33-27. Leggio managed the opposing score to only two goals while making 31 saves. The Dutchmen must have found themselves frustrated throughout the game with several opportunities to tap the puck in the backdoor, yet Leggio was there every time to make a monster save.

The first period can be summed up by a pretty setup play as David Cayer navigated the puck across the ice to the goalkeeper's weak side to find Brandon DeFazio for a tap into the goal. The end of the period was tested by a lone breakaway from Union's Chris Potts, but Leggio made the save and ensured a 1-0 lead going into the second period.

The second period was highlighted by an enormous amount of shots on the Clarkson goal, nineteen to be exact. Only one of these shots was capitalized with a power play goal by Mario Valery-Trabucco, squaring up directly in front of the goal with assists from Adam Presizniuk and Matt Cook in twelfth minute of the second period. All in all, this period could have been much worse, and Clarkson was fortunate to end this period with a 1-1 tie.

Clarkson came into the third period really playing like the Golden Knights that have gotten them into first place in the ECAC standings. The Knights exploited the use of the backdoor as Grant Clitsome found Steve Zalewski on the far side of the net. Zalewski made his shot nearly impossible to save as he chipped the puck on the crease right into the top shelf.

Nearly eleven minutes later, Union responded with a goal of their own, when Adam Presizniuk, assisted by Mike Harr, ripped a wrist shot from the corner of the blue line into the far side of the net, right past Leggio's ear.

The Golden Knights quickly responded with a game winning goal by Shea Guthrie in the seventeenth minute of the final period. The goal was set up by Chris D'Alvise and Tim Marks as a tearing shot was deflected off the goalies pads, into the backhand of Guthrie, and cleaned up into the back of the net.

Clarkson did not make this into an easy win, while committing 9:56 worth of penalty box time compared to their own 4:39 power play time.

With these two wins this weekend, Clarkson extends their unbeaten streak to 5 (4-0-1), and dominates the ECAC standings with a 15-7-2 overall record and a 10-3-1 ECAC stand.

Next week, the Clarkson Golden Knights travel to Colorado College to take on the top dog Tigers of the WCHA conference.

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