In a rematch of last season’s ECAC Championship, the Cornell men’s hockey team defeated the Clarkson Golden Knights by a score of 4-2 in Potsdam on Friday night. Cam Donaldson scored the game-winner with 9 minutes remaining, as the 3rd-ranked Big Red avenged their 3-2 overtime loss in the championship game last season.

Game Recap

7th-ranked Clarkson came out firing, outshooting Cornell 15-7 in the first period. However, Big Red junior netminder Matthew Galadja was up to the challenge, turning away all 15 shots. This included several partial breakaways, and kept the game scoreless after the first.

Travis Mitchell opened the scoring for Cornell 9 minutes into the second period, off a feed from junior Morgan Barron. It was the freshman’s first collegiate goal. Just over 2 minutes later, senior captain Jeff Malott put home his first goal of the season, extending Cornell’s lead to 2-0.

However, Clarkson would not be held down for long. Connor McCarthy responded on the powerplay 1:40 after Malott’s goal, shortening the lead to one. It was McCarthy’s first goal of the season, and came off a feed from senior Haralds Egle. 2 and a half minutes later, Devin Brosseau scored to tie the game at 2-2. It was the 5th goal of the season for Brosseau, who also assisted on the overtime winner in the ECAC Championship last season.

The third period did not bring many scoring opportunities, until a penalty to Clarkson’s Josh Dunne gave the Big Red an opportunity on the powerplay. Cornell struck quickly on the man advantage, with Donaldson’s eventual game-winner. It was the only powerplay opportunity for Cornell in the game.

“If we’re given an opportunity like that only once a game, we gotta bury that,” Donaldson told the Cornell Daily Sun after the game.

Cornell’s talented defense bore down, and limited Clarkson’s chances for the remainder of the game. Michael Regush sealed it, burying an empty net goal with 1:27 remaining.

Cornell goaltender Matthew Galadja finished with 29 saves on 31 shots, while Clarkson netminder Frank Marotte stopped 27 of the 30 shots he faced.

What’s Next

Cornell improves to 5-0-0 on the season, and 3-0-0 in ECAC play. They currently sit in second place, behind the Harvard Crimson. Clarkson drops to 7-3-1 on the season, and 2-1-0 in the ECAC. They currently sit in 5th place.

Cornell will next travel to Canton on Saturday, to face the St. Lawrence Saints (3-7-1). Clarkson will stay home on Saturday night, and face off against Colgate (3-5-3).