Knights Post Third Straight Shutout with 2-0 Win Versus Utica

he Golden Knights improved to 3-0 on the young season, their best start since 2009, while Utica dropped to 1-2. Clarkson will look to continue its winning ways this weekend when it hosts Castleton State and The Sage Colleges. Though Clarkson held a 10-1 advantage in shots in the first half, most of its early scoring opportunities went wide or were cleared off crosses. Mack Walton had a good chance with about 15 minutes to go, but his hard liner was handled by Utica goalkeeper Jonathan Side. With just a few minutes left in the half, Utica had its first shot, but the attempt from Nicolas Diaz was a manageable one-hopper into the arms of Clarkson keeper Ian Roeloffs. The Golden Knights finally struck in the final minute of the opening half when a familiar combination formed for the Clarkson goal.Aidan Subra sent a cross through the box to Henry Gomez at the other side. Gomez settled the ball and took one touch before striking with his right foot to the opposite side of the goal to give the Knights a 1-0 advantage at 44:06. Clarkson nearly scored in the opening minute of the second half, but Matt Adamou's shot went high. However, it would not be long before the Knights would add to their goal total as the Green and Gold struck again at 53:21. Drew Lewis sent a pass into the box, finding Stephen Klimek, who patiently gathered the ball and took one quick turn past the defense and hit a hard grounder to the right corner for the goal. Clarkson would continue the pressure, nearly adding a goal off a header from Walton, which was denied with a sprawling save by Jonathan Side. Utica's chances were kept at a minimum as the Knights held possession and kept pushing into the Pioneers' defensive zone, but the score would remain 2-0 until the final buzzer. Clarkson finished with a 16-7 edge in shots and a 5-3 lead in corner kicks, though two of those Utica chances from the corners came in the waning moments. Side finished with seven saves for Utica, while Roeloffs denied four for his second shutout of the year.