Clarkson played on of their most complete games in recent memory
and downed the Vermont Catamounts, 5-2, tonight in Potsdam.
 
Clarkson's Dave Seitz drew first blood as he took a long pass, broke out
1-on-1, smoked the UVM defenseman and beat Vermont goalie Tim Thomas. Later,
good work behind the net led to Clarkson's second goal. A centering pass
to Marko Tuomainen at the top of the circle resulted. Marko walked in and
launched a rocket past Thomas. Clarkson's 3rd goal was almost exactly
the same with Tuomainen getting that goal as well.
 
Vermont made it 3-1 early in the second when, on a power play, Nicholas
Perreault put a weak backhand past a screened Clarkson goalie Jason Currie.
Clarkson made it 4-1 when Patrice Robitaille took a centering pass and
lifted it past Thomas. Vermont made it 4-2 on a power play. Vermont
tried a wraparound, Currie made the inital save and saves on 2 rebounds
but the Cats Dominique Ducharme poked it past a helpless Currie. Clarkson's
Todd White took a centering pass from behind the net and tipped it past
Thomas for Clarkson's final goal. There was no scoring in the 3rd period.
 
For the first time in quite a while, Clarkson played a solidly for 60
minutes. There were quite a few players deserving of 3 star consideration
so I'll just list them all. White, Tuomainen, Steve Palmer, Ed Henrich
and Currie. White and Palmer were excellent in the corners as was
Jean-Francois Houle. Henrich had a superb game defensively. Tuomainen
played well clogging up space in the middle. And Currie was solid
in the nets and made half a dozen excellent stops in an early second
period Vermont power play to preserve Clarkson's cushion.
 
As for Vermont's vaunted freshman Tim Thomas, he didn't really have
much of a chance on any of the goals. Clarkson really swarmed the net.
However, Thomas made a habit of coming out of the net and playing the
puck at ill-advised times (much like Currie is infamous for). In addition,
he seemed confused in the officials signals between penalties and
offsides/high stick. Twice, Thomas darted for the bench when the refs
arm went up for what was merely a delayed offsides call.
 
A full 60 minute effort is what Clarkson needed. Ironically, not
once did the players need to urge the fans to stand up and cheer.
They didn't need to. They took care of their business first and
the cheers followed.
 
The shots were 37-35 for Clarkson.
 
Clarkson hosts Colgate and Cornell next weekend.
 
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     | Clarkson University '95         Glens Falls High '91            |
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