Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Senior Nick Dodge scored two goals to lead No. 12 Clarkson University to a 3-1 win over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in an ECAC Hockey contest in front of 5084 fans at the Houston Field House. With the win the Golden Knights improve to 18-10-4 overall and 13-4-3 in the league. They maintain their hold on first place. RPI falls to 10-20-4 and 5-12-3.

Clarkson broke out on top at 8:08 of the first period when freshman Scott Freeman (Whitby, ON/Bowmanville Eagles) intercepted a clearing attempt and wristed a shot from between the circles past senior goaltender Jordan Alford (Red Deer, AB/Canmore Eagles). For Freeman, the goal was his fourth of the season.

The Golden Knights doubled their lead in the second period with a power play goal by Dodge at the 8:10 mark. Dodge earned his ninth of the season when he gathered the rebound of a Matt Beca (Mississauga, ON/Oakville Braves) shot while standing in the slot and slipped the puck past Alford. Grant Clitsome (Gloucester, ON/Nepean Raiders) was also credited with an assist on the goal, which came with 13 seconds remaining on a five minute RPI penalty.

Dodge added an unassisted, empty net goal, which he scored from his team’s defensive zone for a 3-0 lead at 19:16. RPI’s lone goal was a deflection off the stick of senior Andrew Lord (West Vancouver, BC/Vernon Vipers) with one second remaining in the game. Classmates Jonathan Ornelas (Mississauga, ON/Milton IceHawks) and Tyler Eaves (Queensbury, NY/Shattuck St. Mary’s) set up the marker.

Alford finished with 28 saves for the Engineers, while senior David Leggio (Williamsville, NY/Capital District Selects) stopped 16 shots for the Knights.

Rensselaer closes out the regular season with a pair of league games next weekend. The Engineers are at Brown on Friday (7pm) and Yale on Saturday (5:30pm). Clarkson hosts Princeton and Quinnipiac in ECAC Hockey games next Friday and Saturday. Both games begin at 7pm.