Making his first collegiate start in goal, sophomore Corey Rosen (Kingston, ONT) came through with a solid 32-save effort for the Clarkson University Hockey team, but the Golden Knights’ offense could not convert on numerous scoring chances as the Green and Gold lost2-1 to Air Force in the first day of the Denver Cup at Magness Arena in Colorado on Friday night.

Clarkson, which saw a modest win streak halted after two games, will play Lake Superior State on Saturday of the classic format tournament at 6:00 p.m. EST. The Knights own a 6-5-2 overall record.

After allowing a goal on the first shot of the game, Rosen, who played just 20 minutes of NCAA action prior to Friday’s contest, settled down and finished with 10 first-period stops and posted 11 more saves in both the second and third periods.

Matt Becker gave the Falcons’ a 1-0 first-period lead at 4:30, but Clarkson came back to tie the game midway through the middle frame. Junior Nick Tremblay (Candiac, QUE) finished off an assist from senior Lauri Tuohimaa (Helsinki, Finland) for a shorthanded marker while the Knights were killing off a five-minute major penalty at 8:07. For Tremblay that was his third goal of the season and the Knights’ third shorthanded tally of the year.

The tie was short lived, however, as Air Force (5-6-1) took a 2-1 lead at 17:32 of the period when Brad Sellers converted right after the Falcons won a faceoff for the game-winner.

Clarkson outshot Air Force 37-34. Jason Torf made 36 saves for the Falcons. The Knights’, boasting the 8th-ranked shorthanded unit in the nation, killed off all three Air Force power plays, including a five-minute major. Clarkson was 0-of-2 with the man-advantage.