Freshman Chris D’Alvise tallied two goals and sophomore David Leggio posted 20 saves in his first career shutout as Clarkson University defeated Princeton University, 5-0, in Game 2 of the ECACHL first-round series at Cheel Arena on Saturday night. The Golden Knights (18-15-3), who defeated the Tigers (10-18-3), 2-1, in the first game of the series on Friday, will move on to next weekend’s quarterfinal series.
Playing its first postseason series at home in three years, Clarkson dominated from the opening faceoff against the Tigers on Saturday and continued its effort throughout the entire 60 minutes to record its first shutout of the season. The Knights finished the 2005-06 campaign at home with a 14-2-2 mark at Cheel Arena.
Sophomore David Cayer gave Clarkson the early lead at 8:55 of the first when he finished off assists from sophomore linemate Nick Dodge and junior defenseman Michael Grenzy for his 12th goal of the year.
Clarkson took control in the second period, building a 4-0 lead and scoring three goals in a span of 8:44. D’Alvise tallied on the power play at 7:35 to start the Knights’ second period roll. Cutting in front from the left side, D’Alvise tapped in a pass from sophomore Shawn Weller off the right boards to make it 2-0. Sophomore defenseman Grant Clitsome also assisted.
Just 1:50 later, junior Mike Sullivan scored his third goal of the weekend and 15th of the season on a quick wrist shot from the left circle. Cayer and Dodge assisted. At 16:19, D’Alvise picked up his second goal of the night and eighth of the season, finishing off a great feed from Grenzy in front. Freshman defenseman Philippe Paquet also assisted on the tally.
Freshman Mike Willemsen closed out Clarkson’s dominating effort with his first career goal, an unassisted tally at 6:27 of the third.
The Knights outshot the Tigers, 37-20. Leggio, who posted five saves in both the first and second periods and 10 more in third, came up with his biggest stop of the game early in the second stanza. With Clarkson, holding a 1-0 lead and working on the power play, Princeton senior Patrick Neundorfer broke in on a 2-on-1 shorthanded rush and sent a hard shot at the Clarkson net, but was robbed on a glove save by Leggio. The Knights then came back a minute later to start their three-goal second-period outburst.
The Tigers’ senior Eric Leroux, the Ivy League’s first-team goaltender, finished his collegiate career with a 32 save performance.
Clarkson was 1-for-5 on the power play, while Princeton was 0-for-2 with the man advantage.
