Freshman Matt Zarbo (Grand island, NY) scored two goals and junior Paul Karpowich (Thunder Bay, ONT) made 24 saves as the Clarkson University Hockey team defeated archrival St. Lawrence University for the second time this season, winning 3-1 in ECAC Hockey play before 3,721 fans at Cheel Arena on Saturday night.

The Golden Knights, who closed out a five-game home stand with two straight wins, improved their overall record to 6-4-2 overall and to 2-2-1 in conference action. Clarkson travels to Colorado next weekend to play Air Force and Lake Superior State in the Denver Cup.

In a hard-hitting, physical contest the Knights led throughout, taking a 2-0 first-period lead with goals six minutes apart. Zarbo, who tallied the overtime game-winner in the Knights’ 2-1 victory over the Saints on October 30, started the scoring at 10:16. Zarbo picked up a loose puck in front after a shot from the slot by junior Jake Morley (Ogdensburg, NY), and knocked in the game’s first goal.

At 16:01, senior Scott Freeman (Whitby, ONT) finished off a pass in front by classmate Brandon DeFazio (Oakville, ONT), tapping in a shot for his fourth goal of the year. Freshman defenseman Alex Boak (Norwood, NY) earned an assist by starting the play with a long pass out of the Clarkson zone to DeFazio at the St. Lawrence blueline.

The rivals traded second-period goals with Clarkson holding a 3-1 lead after 40 minutes of play. Zarbo put the Knights on top 3-0 at 4:23 of the middle frame when he finished off assists from line mates Morley and freshman Allan McPherson (Kinburn, ONT) with a rising wrist shot from the left circle just under the crossbar for his team-high fifth goal of the season.

St. Lawrence got on the scoreboard with Kyle Essery’s first collegiate goal at 7:20, but that was all for the Saints, who suffered their third consecutive loss to fall to 2-7-3 overall and to 2-3 in ECAC Hockey.

In a scoreless third period, the Saints appeared to score their second goal during a 5-on-3 power play at 9:05, but the goal was disallowed after video review because it was knocked in with a high stick.

St. Lawrence out shot Clarkson 25-18, but the Knights, back stopped by Karpowich, were perfect shorthanded, killing off all five of the Saints power plays, including 67 seconds of a two-man advantage for the visitors in the third.

Clarkson was 0-of-3 on the power play.