An inability to capitalize with the man advantage cost the Clarkson University Hockey team on Friday night as the Golden Knights lost a tight 3-2 ECAC Hockey game to Harvard before 2,241 fans at Cheel Arena.

Clarkson, which saw its winless skid extend to four games (0-3-1), drops to 6-4-3 overall and to 1-3-1 in ECAC Hockey. The Knights host Dartmouth, 3-1 winners at St. Lawrence on Friday, in a 7:00 p.m. game on Saturday.

Against Harvard (2-2-1, 2-2-1), The Knights struggled on the power play, connecting for just one man-advantage goal in seven opportunities. Trailing 3-2 late in the contest, Clarkson went on a five-minute major power play with 5:05 to play in regulation, but could manage just one shot on goal on the extended man advantage.

The Knights twice overcame one-goal deficits to tie the game 2-2 midway through the third period. With just 11 seconds left in Clarkson’s sixth power play of the game, sophomore Matt Zarbo (Grand Island, NY) knocked in a rebound in front at 12:04 for his second goal of the season. Senior Julien Cayer (Longueuil, QUE) and sophomore Allan McPherson (Kinburn, ONT) assisted. At 14:55, the Crimson’s Colin Blackwell was called for a five-minute major for a hit from behind putting the Green and Gold back on the power play. Harvard, however, was able to shut down the Knights’ attack and held on for the one-goal victory on the road.

Skating on its second consecutive power play early in the opening frame, Harvard got on the scoreboard first, connecting on the man advantage at 6:18. Eric Kroshus tallied his first goal of the year, finishing off assists from Daniel Moriarty and Patrick McNally to put the visitors on top.

The Crimson lead did not last long as the Knights came right back 39 seconds later to tie the game. Senior Nick Tremblay (Candiac, QUE) took a pass down low from classmate Louke Oakley (Whitby, ONT) and slid in a backhand shot from the slot for his team-high seventh goal of the season at 6:47.

Despite three power-play opportunities for Harvard, Clarkson held an 11-10 shot advantage through the opening 20 minutes.

The game was delayed at 4:25 in the second period when a hard shot by Patrick McNally 19 seconds into a Harvard power play shattered the glass behind the Clarkson net, postponing play for almost 20 minutes. After the teams return to the ice, the Knights killed off the Crimson’s fourth power play of the game, but Harvard was able to regain the lead several minutes later.

At 7:15, the Crimson’s Tommy O’Regan stole the puck off a Clarkson defenseman’s stick in the Knights’ zone and fired a quick shot from the left circle that beat senior goaltender Paul Karpowich (Thunder Bay, ONT) for his first goal of the season to give the visitors a 2-1 lead through 40 minutes.

Clarkson out shot Harvard 32-27 and killed off eight of the Crimson’s nine power-play chances. Karpowich finished with 24 saves. Steve Michalek posted 30 stops for the Crimson.