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McPherson's late goal lifts Knights to 3-2 win over Cornell

Posted 11/15/13

The late-game heroics continued for the Clarkson University Hockey team as senior Allan McPherson (Kinburn, ONT) scored in the final seconds for his second goal of the night as the ninth-ranked …

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McPherson's late goal lifts Knights to 3-2 win over Cornell

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The late-game heroics continued for the Clarkson University Hockey team as senior Allan McPherson (Kinburn, ONT) scored in the final seconds for his second goal of the night as the ninth-ranked Golden Knights defeated Cornell University 3-2 in ECAC Hockey action before 2,923 fans at Cheel Arena on Friday.

For the second consecutive outing, McPherson connected for the game-winner late as Clarkson won its third straight game to improve its record to 10-2-1 overall and to 4-1 in ECAC hockey. The Knights, who have matched their best start since the 1991-92 campaign, have now gone 7-0-1 in one-goal games.

Clarkson, which has won its last six games by one goal, will host Colgate on Saturday to close out action before a two-week break.

Ranked 19th in the county, Cornell (3-3-1, 1-3-1) dropped its second straight game and saw its winless stretch reach four games (0-3-1).

McPherson, who scored with two minutes remaining in last Saturday's 2-1 victory at Harvard, came through again for the Green and Gold against Cornell with his team-high seventh goal of the year. With just 37.3 seconds left in regulation, the veteran center gathered in a rebound off a shot by sophomore Jeff DiNallo (Aurora, ONT) at the right circle and fired in a shot just underneath the crossbar for his third game-winner of the season and 12th career winner. Junior linemate Joe Zarbo (Grand Island, NY) helped to set up the goal by working the puck free along the boards to DiNallo to record his second assist of the night.

Playing at Cheel for the first time since late October, the Knights wasted little time in bringing the home crowd to its feet, scoring in the opening minute of play. Just 45 seconds after the initial faceoff, Clarkson took the lead when senior captain Ben Sexton (Kanata, ONT) knocked in a rebound off a shot by sophomore Pat Megannety (Oakville, ONT) at the bottom of the right circle for his third goal of the season. Senior Will Frederick (Allison Park, PA) started the play with a pass out from behind the goal line to Megannety at the left circle. The Knights outshot the Big Red 7-2 in the first period and did not let the visitors get a shot on net until there was four minutes left to play in the stanza.

Clarkson struck again early in the middle frame to take a two-goal lead. McPherson picked up a rebound off a Megannety shot in between the circles and fired in a wrist shot for his sixth goal of the season at 5:09. Joe Zarbo also assisted.

Cornell got on the scoreboard when its sixth-ranked power play connected midway through the period. The Big Red's captain John McCarron picked up a loose puck at the top of the crease and lifted in his second goal of the year, a man-advantage marker at 10:39. Dustin Mowrey and Joakim Ryan assisted.

The Big Red made the Knights pay for another penalty midway through the third period and tied the score. Cornell took just 28 seconds on its fourth man-advantage opportunity of the night to make the score 2-2. Brian Ferlin knocked in a puck in front at 12:37 with Joel Lowry and Ryan assisting.

Clarkson, however, was able to hold off Cornell's comeback attempt and pulled out its second straight home win over the Big Red at Cheel.

The Knights dominated on the shot charts, holding a 26-11 advantage. Cornell was able to stay close because of the work of its highly-rated power play. The Big Red went 2-4 with the man-advantage, while Clarkson did not capitalize on its lone power-play attempt, which came just 2:05 into the first period.

Sophomore Greg Lewis (Mars, PA), making his third consecutive start, posted nine saves to improve his record to 7-1. Andy Iles made 23 stops for Cornell.