With another balanced offensive and defensive effort along with a solid effort in goal by sophomore Greg Lewis (Mars, PA) the Clarkson University Hockey team skated past Rochester Institute of Technology 4-1 in its home opener at Cheel Arena Friday night.

The Golden Knights, who matched their best start in the past six years with their second straight win, improved their record to 4-1 overall. RIT falls to 0-3. The Knights and Tigers will battle again on Saturday in a 7:30 p.m. game at Cheel.

Four different Clarkson players scored in the win and 11 Knights recorded at least one point as the Green and Gold ran their unbeaten streak over RIT to nine games (8-0-1). Sophomore defenseman Paul Geiger (Stouffville, ONT) registered a team-high two points on a pair of assists in a complete Clarkson effort.

Playing on its home ice for the first time this season, the Knights came out with a solid opening 20 minutes, outshooting RIT 15-10 en route to a 1-0 lead. Clarkson grabbed the lead late in the period, when sophomore Jeff DiNallo (Aurora, ONT) took a behind-the-net pass from classmate Pat Megannety (Oakville, ONT) and flipped a shot from the right side of the crease just under the crossbar at 14:20 for his second goal of the season. Geiger started the play with a pass out of the Clarkson zone to Megannety at center ice.

Clarkson outscored the Tigers 2-1 late in the second period to hold a 3-1 lead through 40 minutes.

Senior Jarrett Burton (Echo Bay, ONT) took a drop pass in the slot from Captain Ben Sexton (Kanata, ONT) and fired in his second goal of the season at 15:02 through a mass of players in front. Sophomore T.J. Moor (Lake St. Louis, MO) also assisted.

RIT got on the scoreboard at 17:09 when Brad Reid netted his first of the year off a shot in front, connecting on assists from line mates Danny Smith and Caleb Cameron. The Knights came right back to retake the two-goal lead just 27 seconds later. Senior Allan McPherson (Kinburn, ONT) battled for a rebound at the top of the crease and jammed in his second goal of the year with classmates Will Fredericks (Allison Park, PA) and defenseman Alex Boak (Norwood, NY) assisting.

Clarkson added to its lead early in the final frame when junior Joe Zarbo (Grand Island, NY) put in a rebound off a shot by Geiger at 3:24. Senior Matt Zarbo (Grand Island, NY) set up the play with a pass out of the corner to Geiger at the point.

The Knights outshot RIT 37-26. Lewis, who finished with 25 saves, had a big stop in each period. He made a pad save with just over a minute to play in the opening fame, stopping Nolan Descoteaux at the doorstep. Late in the second period, Lewis turned away Reid on a breakaway attempt. With seven minutes remaining in the game, Lewis came through with another breakaway stop, making a pad save on Josh Mitchell's attempt.

Jordan Ruby made 26 saves for RIT.

Both teams finished 0-for-2 on the power play.