POTSDAM, NY – The RIT men's hockey team (0-1-0) opened the 2015-16 season by falling to host Clarkson (1-0-0) by a score of 6-0 in front of 2,488 fans at Cheel Arena on Friday evening. Clarkson broke open a close game by scoring four third period goals.
 
Thirteen different Golden Knights had at least a point. A.J. Fossen led the Golden Knights with a pair of power-play goals, while Simon Bessette and Nick Pierog had a goal and an assist apiece. Paul Geiger and Christian Powers also scored. In goal, Steve Perry picked up his seventh career shutout, stopping all 21 shots he faced.
 
RIT goaltender Mike Rotolo (Rochester, NY/Cedar Rapids Roughriders) made 30 saves, including 26 over the first two periods. Alexander Kuqali (Pittsburgh, PA/Sioux City Musketeers), Brady Norrish (Strongfield, Saskatchewan/Yorkton Terriers), and Josh Mitchell (Osoyoos, British Columbia/Alberni Valley Bulldogs) had three shots on goal apiece to lead RIT.
 
Clarkson out-shot RIT, 36-21. The Golden Knights were 3-for-6 with the man-advantage, while RIT was 0-for-4. Clarkson held a 16-3 edge in power-play shots.
 
"I thought we got off to a good start, but once Clarkson fought back, we buckled," said RIT head coach Wayne Wilson. "I didn't think we competed hard enough as a team and this will serve as a wake up call for us."
 
Despite a first period in which RIT held a distinct territorial advantage 5-on-5, they found themselves trailing 2-0, as Clarkson tallied a pair of power-play markers.
 
RIT had a great chance on the first shift when Josh Mitchell (Osoyoos, British Columbia/Alberni Valley Bulldogs) hammered a shot from the high slot that Perry stopped, but left a juicy rebound that hopped just over the stick of Todd Skirving (Thunder Bay, Ontario/Sioux Falls Stampede) in front.
 
Clarkson got on the board first at the 7:40 mark of the contest, on the power-play, as Fossen tipped in a point shot from James de Haas past Rotolo. Kelly Summers also assisted on the goal.
 
Rotolo would have to come up with a couple of big saves from point blank range on Kevin Tansey and Troy Josephs.
 
Just as a Tigers power-play was ending late in the period, they would be whistled for too many men on the ice. Once again, Clarkson would make them pay, as Geiger ripped a one-time from the right faceoff circle past Rotolo off a nice feed from Jeff DiNallo with just 9.4 seconds left in the period to make it a 2-0 game.
 
Neither team scored in a second period that was dominated by the Clarkson power-play, as they had seven minutes of man-advantage time work with. This time, the RIT penalty killing unit was able to shut the door and keep it 2-0 after 40 minutes of play.
 
The Tigers did not have a shot until the halfway point of the period, but then had a flurry over the next minute, peppering Perry with four shots. RIT's best chance came when Mitchell looked to have an open net from the slot off a shot was blocked. Mitchell fired a rocket towards the open goal, but Perry came lunging across, full extension to make the incredible save and keep RIT off the board.
 
With just over six minutes left in the period, Danny Smith (Edmonton, Alberta/Sherwood Park Crusaders) was given a five-minute major for interference, but his RIT teammates did an incredible job on the ensuing penalty kill, blocking a handful of shots, while Rotolo did his part with a couple of fine saves.
 
Clarkson pulled away in the third with four goals. Powers made it 3-0, putting home a rebound in front, as RIT could not clear him away. Fossen gave Clarkson a 4-0 lead with his second power-play goal of the night, completing a nice passing play in front. Pierog and Bessette completed the scoring with even strength goals 3:46 apart.
 
Tonight was the collegiate debut for Liam Kerins (Caledon, Ontario/North York Rangers), Mark Logan (Calgary, Alberta/Brooks Bandits ), and Gabe Valenzuela (Brampton, Ontario/North York Rangers).
 
Clarkson leads the all-time series between the two schools, 13-2-3. RIT is now 2-8-1 all-time in 11 season openers at the Division I level and 2-9-0 in road openers.

RIT continues its road swing against ECAC foes against No. 19 St. Lawrence Saturday night from Appleton Arena. That contest begins at 7 p.m. Next Saturday, Oct. 17, RIT hosts Bowling Green at Blue Cross Arena as part of Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend at 7:05 p.m. Limited tickets still remain for that contest.