POTSDAM, N.Y.-The American International College ice hockey team fell just short against the Clarkson University Golden Knights, dropping a 4-3 decision at Cheel Arena in a non-conference contest.
AIC falls to 2-11-4 on the year, remaining 2-5-4 in Atlantic Hockey, while Clarkson is now 7-8-4 overall and 4-1-2 in the ECAC Hockey League.
Clarkson opened the scoring early, as a shot by junior left wing Todd Christian (Norwalk, Conn.) rang the iron and went in; the goal required a video review to ensure it crossed the line, but it counted for his third of the season at 2:08.
Shortly after, the Jackets nearly got it back; senior center Matt Cassidy (London, Ont.) stole the puck at the Clarkson blue line and stepped in with a shot that beat junior goalkeeper Greg Lewis (Mars, Pa.), but came out off the iron.
Then, at 13:59, the Golden Knights extended the lead, as freshman defenseman Kelly Summers (Golden Lake, Ont.), an Ottawa Senators draft pick, ripped a shot from the blue line off the bar and in for his first of the year.
Despite the two goals, sophomore Hunter Leisner (Garland, Texas) was strong; he stopped a few good chances by sophomore center and Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick Troy Josephs (Whitby, Ont.) in front, and then a breakaway as well.
Late in the first, the teams took matching penalties, and off the draw, senior left wing Jason Popek (Hamilton, Ont.) won it to the left, where senior center Alexander MacMillan (Calgary, Alb.) reached past the winger on him, stretched out Lewis, and threw the puck under his arm for his ninth of the year at 19:25.
In the second, the momentum continued to favor AIC, as senior defenseman Steven Hoshaw (Vista, Calif.) made a pass to senior right wing Nathan Sliwinski (Castle Rock, Colo.), who in turn moved it forward to junior left wing Chris Porter (Stouffville, Ont.). Porter threw the puck on goal, and Lewis juggled it; Porter, who was crashing the net, jammed it home at 6:03 for his second of the year.
Then, on the power play, freshman defenseman Andrew DeBrincat (Farmington Hills, Mich.) threw a pass to the left side of the net for freshman right wing Johno May (Mahtomedi, Minn.), who in turn slid the puck in front, where sophomore defenseman Dominic Racobaldo (Pennsauken, N.J.) was waiting to pot his first of the year at 14:17.
However, Clarkson got a power play and a goal of their own to knot the game at three all, as Summers finished a shift of over a minute in the zone for the Golden Knights' power play with his second of the game at 19:03.
Clarkson elected to make a change in net after the second, with sophomore Steve Perry (Ligoner, Pa.) taking over to start the third frame.
Clarkson had the best chance of the first half of a the period, as a pass across to freshman right wing Nic Pierog (Georgetown, Ont.) seemed like a sure goal, but Leisner got the blocker up on the puck to keep it 3-3.
Leisner then made another stop on sophomore center and Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick Troy Jospehs (Whitby, Ont.), stretching out the left leg to stop a rebound chance with just over seven left in regulation.
However, Clarkson broke the tie at 16:06, as senior left wing Joe Zarbo (Grand Island, N.Y.) carried the puck into the slot off a turnover, untouched, and roofed it for his seventh of the season.
In goal, Leisner stopped 29 of 33 shots in the loss, while Lewis had 10 saves on 13 shots in 40:00 of play before being relieved by Perry, who stopped 8 of 8 in the win.
AIC, which has closed out non-conference play for the regular season, will have a home-and-home with Atlantic Hockey foe Army starting Friday night at 7:05 p.m. at Tate Rink in West Point, N.Y. and concluding with a game Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. at the Olympia Ice Center.
