Knights fall to Cornell in men's ice hockey

Nationally-ranked Cornell University put an end to the Clarkson University Hockey team’s four-game unbeaten stretch (2-0-2) by posting its first win of the season, a convincing 6-1 victory over the Golden Knights in ECAC Hockey action Saturday night before 2,397 fans at Cheel Arena.

The Big Red’s freshman goaltender Andy Iles made 35 saves and six different Cornell players scored goals, including five who collected their first goal of the season.

Benefiting from strong work down low, Cornell opened the scoring at 13:42 when Jordan Kary took a pass alone out front and tallied his first goal of the season. The Big Red built their lead to 4-0 midway through the second period.

Braden Birch started Cornell’s roll in the middle frame, scoring through a screen at 8:06. Kirill Gotovets and Locke Jillson tallied 50 seconds apart to give the visitors a comfortable four-goal advantage. Gotovets netted his first collegiate goal at 11:44 right after a Cornell power play had ended. Locke’s tally came with the man-advantage at 12:34.

Clarkson got on the scoreboard late in the second when senior Brandon DeFazio (Oakville, ONT) connected for his third goal of the season at 16:03. DeFazio took a pass from junior Louke Oakley (Whitby, ONT) inside the left circle and fired off a quick low wrist shot just inside the near post. Junior Mark Borowiecki (Kanata, ONT) also assisted.

Cornell added two more goals in the third period to seal its third straight win over the Knights. Dustin Mowrey capitalized on a Clarkson turnover in the Knights’ end and tallied his team-high third goal of the season at 10:58. Joe Devin made it 6-1 when he banked a shot off the pads of Clarkson’s junior goaltender Paul Karpowich (Thunder Bay, ONT) at 14:50.

Clarkson out shot Cornell 36-34, including a 17-10 edge in the second period when the Big Red outscored the Green and Gold 3-1.

The Knights went 0-of-3 on the power play while Cornell was 1-of-7,

The Knights, at 4-3-2 overall and 0-1-1 in ECAC Hockey, host Dartmouth and Harvard next weekend. With a 1-3 overall record and a 1-1 mark in the league, the 19th-ranked Big Red begin a four-game home stand at Lynah Rink next weekend hosting Quinnipiac and Princeton.