No. 5 Clarkson shuts down RPI in N. Ireland

BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND » Freshman Josh Dickinson scored both goals to lead the fifth-ranked Clarkson University men’s hockey team to a 2- 0 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Friday at SSE Arena in the opening game of the Friendship Four in Northern Ireland. With the win, the Golden Knights improve to 113-1, while the Engineers drop to 2-8-3.

Dickinson opened the scoring at 18:10 of the first period, sticking home a rebound off the end wall. Classmate Kevin Charyszyn and sophomore Haralds Egle notched the assists.

After a scoreless second period, Clarkson made it 2- 0 at 17:28 of the third. Dickinson carried the puck up the right wing boards, before cutting across the face of goal for his second tally. He beat RPI freshman netminder Linden Marshall inside the left post for his eighth goal of the season. Fellow first-year Jack Jacome and Charyszyn earned the assists.

RPI picked up its play in the third, outshooting the Golden Knights, 13- 9. The Engineers created chances on its lone man advantage of the third, but could not sneak a puck past Clarkson sophomore goaltender Jake Kielly, who shut out RPI for the second straight game, made 22 saves.

Sophomore Will Reilly registered a team-high four shots, while classmate Jacob Hayhurst had three. The Engineers wound up 0-for- 3 on the power play,

while Clarkson was 1-for- 5. Marshall was named RPI’s Player of the Game, while Dickinson earned the same honor for the Golden Knights.

Rensselaer i s back on the Saturday af ternoon, when it t akes on Maine, the loser of t he Fr i endship Four l ate game who were defeated 3- 0 by No. 10 Providence. Clarkson wi l l f ol l ow with a game against Providence i n a match- up of t wo ranked t eams in the tourney f i nal.