Sophomore Nick Dodge tallied twice in the third period as Clarkson rallied for a 3-3 tie against Bemidji State in the opening round of the Sheraton/TD BankNorth Catamount Cup at the University of Vermont on Friday evening. The Golden Knights advance to Saturday’s championship game to play host Vermont after edging the Beavers in the five-man shootout 1-0.
Sophomore David Leggio was the standout of the shootout session stopping all five Bemidji State attempts. Dodge, Clarkson’s first shooter, connected for the lone goal of the shootout.
Ranked 15th in the country, Clarkson owns a 10-5-2 overall record and will play in its first holiday tournament championship game since winning the 1995 RPI Invitational title. Vermont, ranked 5th nationally, defeated Dartmouth 1-0 in Friday’s other first round game.
The Knights trailed 3-1 early in the second period againt Bemidji State, but were able to battle back for the tie on the strength of the play of Dodge. Clarkson’s leading scorer, the assistant captain made it a 3-2 game at 11:22 of the third with his third shorthanded goal of the season. Dodge took a pass from senior captain Chris Brekelmans and fired a hard shot from the top of the left circle that defected off the Beaver’s goaltender and trickled over the goal line. With 2:31 remaining in regulation, Dodge connected for his ninth goal of the year when he drilled a shot from the slot underneath the crossbar to make it 3-3. Junior Mike Sullivan assisted.
Bemidji State (9-6-2) took a 2-1 first period lead, sandwiching goals around Sullivan’ 5-on-3 power-play marker at 7:37. Senior assistant captain Jeff Genovy and junior Michael Grenzy assisted on Sullivan’ seventh goal of the year.
The Beavers made it 3-1 at 4:39 of the middle frame.
Clarkson out shot Bemidji State 28-17. Leggio posted 14 saves. The Knights were 1-of-8 on the power play and killed off all six of the Beavers’ man-advantage opportunities.
