Lake Placid, NY – In a nail-biting finish, the Clarkson University Men’s Hockey team lost to Alaska Fairbanks 3-2 at the Adirondack Invitational on Saturday night. The decisive goal came in the final minutes, leaving Clarkson with a record of 5-11-0, while Fairbanks improved to 4-8-1.
The game kicked off with an early goal from Fairbanks. A defensive mishap led to a 2-on-1 opportunity, allowing Michael Citara to score shortly after the opening faceoff. Clarkson struck back four minutes later when Matthew Mayich scored after a clever set-up by Luka Sukovic and Erik Bargholtz.
Just before the first intermission, Clarkson added another goal. Luke Pakulak fired a seemingly harmless shot that Jace Letourneau redirected past Fairbanks’ goalie, Lassi Lehti.
In the second period, Clarkson’s defense faced challenges due to early penalties. However, goalie Shane Soderwall made impressive saves to keep Fairbanks at bay. Fairbanks tied the game midway through the period. A turnover led to a fast break, and Michael Citara scored again.
The third period saw both teams create chances but Soderwall and Lehti were both on high alert. With just two minutes left, Fairbanks scored the winner. After a defensive scramble, Rylen Roersma capitalized on a rebound, giving Fairbanks the lead.
Clarkson pulled its goalie for an extra attacker but couldn’t find the equalizer. Despite outshooting Fairbanks overall (55-50) and winning faceoffs (38-25), Clarkson couldn’t convert on its power-play opportunities.
This match highlights the tight competition in college hockey. Recent statistics indicate that close games like this are common. According to a 2023 NCAA report, nearly 60% of college hockey games are decided by one goal, emphasizing the importance of making every shot count.
Looking ahead, Clarkson will welcome Cornell and Colgate next weekend. Both teams will be eager to improve their standings in the ECAC Hockey league.
As fans and players reflect on this game, the excitement of hockey remains high, illustrating the passion surrounding college sports.
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