Providence, RI – In a thrilling game, Ryan Bottrill showcased his skills by scoring the first goal and assisting another, leading Clarkson University Men’s Hockey to a 3-2 victory over Brown University on Friday night. This win marked Clarkson’s fifth consecutive victory and improved their record to 10-11-0 overall and 4-5-0 in the league. Meanwhile, Brown fell to 3-13-0 and 2-7-0. Clarkson will look to extend its winning streak against Yale University next.
The game started slowly, with limited shots from both teams. Ivan Zadvernyuk had a great chance for Clarkson, but Shane Soderwall made a key save. Shortly after, Bryce Sookro of Clarkson was denied by Brown’s goalie, Freddie Halyk. Despite Clarkson’s attempts, the first period ended with the teams tied 0-0, although Clarkson outshot Brown 17-6.
In the second period, Clarkson capitalized on their power plays. After failing to score on earlier attempts, they finally broke through at 7:09. Bottrill fired a one-timer that snuck through the Brown defense, aided by a screen from Talon Sigurdson. Assists went to Jared Mangan and Owen Van Steensel.
The Knights scored again just four minutes later. Tate Taylor unleashed a powerful shot that put Clarkson up 2-0. Before the period ended, Bottrill set up Ty Brassington, who slid the puck past Halyk, extending the lead to 3-0.
After intermission, Brown came back with energy and quickly scored two goals, narrowing the gap to 3-2. Ryan St. Louis created a 2-on-1 opportunity, leading to a goal from Ben Poitras. Moments later, Andrew King tipped in a shot from Ethan Mistry.
As the game closed, Brown pressed hard, even pulling their goalie to add an extra skater. Clarkson’s defense held strong, managing to fend off Brown’s efforts while trying, unsuccessfully, to hit the empty net.
Clarkson finished with a 36-24 advantage in shots, with Soderwall making 22 saves and Halyk achieving 33 stops for Brown.
In terms of overall performance, Clarkson’s recent success highlights a broader trend in college hockey: teams that adapt quickly to game dynamics often come out ahead. According to the NCAA, teams that leverage power plays effectively have a much higher win ratio. As Clarkston’s power play efficiency improved, so did their results on the ice.
This victory isn’t just a win; it reflects the ongoing journey of the team, showing their resilience and ability to adapt under pressure. With their next match against Yale, excitement continues to build around Clarkson’s potential for a successful season.
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