Box Score

POTSDAM, N.Y. - Senior defenseman Nick Bailen (Fredonia, NY) scored two goals and added an assist to highlight Rensselaer's 6-2 victory over Clarkson in ECAC Hockey action at Cheel Arena on Saturday night.

The Engineers, who have won four straight and six of their last seven, improve their record to 12-11-5 overall and to 7-6-3 in ECAC Hockey, The Golden Knights, who lost for only the second time in the past seven games, fall to 7-14-7 overall and to 6-7-3 in the conference.

Five different players scored goals for Rensselaer, which built a commanding 6-0 lead halfway through the game. Senior defenseman Nick Bailen (Fredonia, NY) recorded a goal and two assists, and provided strong play on the blueline as the Engineers equaled their highest goal total of the season.

Both team had seven shots on net in the first period, but it was Rensselaer that made the most of its opportunities scoring three times. Junior defenseman Bo Dolan (St. Paul, MN) started the scoring with a shot from the point that rang off the post and past Clarkson freshman netminder Greg Lewis (Mars, PA) at 12:32. Freshman Mike Zalewski (New Hartford, NY), younger brother of former Clarkson standout Steve Zalewski '08, and sophomore Luke Curadi (Cheshire, CT) assisted.

At 14:54 sophomore Ryan Haggerty (Stamford, CT) fired in a shot from the bottom of the right circle. Less than two minutes later, at 16:49, sophomore Matt Neal (Minesing, ONT) tipped a shot up and in from the top of the crease with defensemen, senior defenseman (Fredonia, NY) and sophomore Curtis Leonard (Napanee, ONT) assisting.

The Engineers opened the second period with back-to-back power-play goals. Sophomore Jacob Laliberte (Rockland, ONT) scored on a quick wrist from the top of the left circle 42 seconds into the stanza. Dolan and Haggerty assisted.

Just four seconds into their second man-advantage Bailen tipped in a Haggerty attempt at 2:10 for his first goal of the game and seventh of the season.

Bailen capitalized on a turnover behind the Clarkson net to make in 6-0 at 9:08. Freshman Mark Miller (Massena, NY) assisted.

Clarkson spoiled Rensselaer's shutout bid with a pair of goals 62 seconds apart early in the third period. Junior Allan McPherson (Kinburn, ONT) extended his goal-scoring streak to four games, finishing off assists from classmates Will Frederick (Allison Park, PA) and Ben Sexton (Kanta, ONT) at 8:06 for his eighth goal of the season. At 9:08 sophomore defenseman James Howden (Edgeley, SASK) tallied his fifth of the season with the assist going to freshman T. J. Moor (Lake St. Louis, MO).

Rensselaer outshot Clarkson 24-21. Freshman Jason Kasdorf (Winnipeg, MAN) posted 19 saves for the Engineers. Lewis made five saves on 10 shots before leaving after Rensselaer's fifth goal. Senior Cody Rosen (Kingston, ONT) recorded 13 saves for the Knights over the final 38 minutes.

Rensselaer went 2-of-5 on the power play, while Clarkson was 0-of-3 with the man-advantage.