Junior Kyle McNulty was solid in the Clarkson University goal with a season-high 25 saves and the Golden Knights received a balanced scoring effort with seven different goal scorers in their 7-1 victory over Wayne State in non-league action before 3,115 fans at Cheel Arena Saturday night. Clarkson, which defeated Wayne State 5-2 on Friday, improved its record to 4-2. The Warriors fell to 0-4 on the season.
For the first time this season, Clarkson tallied the opening goal of a contest when sophomore Steve Zalewski picked up his first goal of the year, flipping in a loose puck at the top of the crease 28 seconds into the Knights’ second power play of the period. Sophomore David Cayer and freshman Shea Guthrie assisted. The Warriors came back to tie in the final seconds of the first period as junior Jason Bloomingburgs connected on the man advantage for his first goal of the year at 19:32, off assists from classmates Nate Higgins and Steve Kovalchik.
Clarkson came out strong to start the second with a three-goal burst in the opening eight minutes of the stanza to take a commanding 4-1 lead. Sophomore Nick Dodge capitalized on a pass into the slot from junior Mike Sullivan at 2:05 for the Knights’ second power-play tally and his fourth goal of the year. At 5:43 sophomore Shawn Weller connected for his team-high fifth goal of the season and third of the weekend, finishing off a pass play from linemates Cayer and Zalewski. Just under two minutes later, Sullivan netted his first of the year, scoring on wrist shot from the left circle at 7:52 with Dodge and Cayer assisting.
The Knights padded their lead in the third with three more goals to complete their most productive outing of the season. Senior defenseman and captain Chris Brekelmans picked up his second goal of the year at 10:25, followed by freshman Chris D’Alvise’s first collegiate score at 16:38. Thirty-two seconds later, junior Brodie Rutherglen rounded out the scoring with his first goal of the year at 17:10. Junior defenseman Michael Grenzy set up the goal along with senior Jeff Genovy, who earned his third assist of the game.
Clarkson out shot Wayne State 42-26 and was 2-of-9 on the power play while killing off eight of the Warriors’ man-advantage chances. Senior Matt Kelly made 35 saves for Wayne State.
