Troy, NY – Another early goal and strong first period propel Clarkson to a 2-1 victory over Rensselaer at Houston Field House in Troy, NY on Saturday night to complete an ECAC Hockey season-opening sweep in the Capital District.

On Friday, the Golden Knights skated by Union 5-1. Ranked 8/9th in the national polls entering the weekend, Clarkson with four straight victories improves to 7-2-1 overall and takes a 2-0-0 conference mark into next weekend's home games against Central NY rivals Cornell and Colgate.

Clarkson's top line was shut down in Friday's win at Union, but found their way on the scoresheet against RPI (4-4, 2-2), scoring both goals. Seniors Haralds Egle (Liepaia, Latvia) and Captain Devin Brosseau (St. Lambert, QUE) provided the goals, while Frank Marotte, the graduate transfer in the Clarkson crease, made 18-saves in the one-goal road victory.

Clarkson outshot the Engineers 27-19 and extended its penalty-killing streak to 25 straight by shutting down RPI's three power plays, The Knights were 0-of-2 with the man-advantage.

For the second night in a row, Clarkson scored at the 1:29 mark of the opening stanza. This time it was Egle who snapped a rebound past goalie Owen Savroy. Again, senior defenseman Greg Moro (Edmonton, ALB) was able to get a puck on net to cause the rebound. Brosseau got the second assist.

Brosseau would score the next goal for Clarkson at 12:03 when senior blueliner Jordan Schneider (Toronto, ONT) drove a puck through traffic on net. Brosseau directed the rebound to the back of the net and Clarkson led 2-0. Moro picked up his second assist on the night as well.

Clarkson took that 2-0 edge to the first intermission. The Green and Gold out shot the Engineers 13-5 in the frame.

The Golden Knights pressed the RPI net in the first half of the middle period, but could not score. Then it was RPI's turn to dent the twine.

Tristian Ashbrook snuck a puck past Marotte at 16:47 of the third period to make the score 2-1.

Both teams generated some good scoring chances in the last twenty minutes, but neither could capitalize and Clarkson took home the victory.

In doing so, the Green and Gold captured its' fifth straight contest at RPI and eighth consecutive victory in the head-to-head series. It's also the fourth time in five seasons that Clarkson has swept the Capital District.

The team returns to Cheel Arena next Friday night in a re-match of last season's ECAC title tilt against Cornell. It's Hockey Fights Cancer night at Cheel.