Box Score

POTSDAM, N.Y. - For the first time in six tries, the Mercyhurst University men's hockey team earned a victory over Clarkson University.

Junior goaltender Jordan Tibbett stopped a career-high 42 shots and freshman Kyle Cook scored his first two collegiate goals on Saturday night, helping the Lakers to a 3-1 victory over the Golden Knights in front of nearly 2,000 fans at the Cheel Arena in Potsdam, New York. Mercyhurst improved to 7-6-1 overall on the season while Clarkson dropped to 4-8-5 on the year.

Mercyhurst had lost the previous five meetings with Clarkson by a combined score of 24-7. However, the two teams had not faced each other since January 2 and 3, 2004, nearly nine years.

Tibbett was brilliant on Saturday, bouncing back from his start last Friday against American International when he allowed five goals on just 27 shots. The junior from Indianapolis, Indiana stopped 42-of-43 Clarkson shots, breaking his previous high of 39 he had accomplished twice. He posted 39 saves in a 3-1 victory over Sacred Heart on November 3 and also recorded 39 stops against Western Michigan - a 1-0 loss on October 16, 2010. Tibbett posted double-digit saves in all three periods on Saturday, turning aside 14 shots in the first, 16 in the second, and 12 in the third.

Meanwhile, Cook, a freshman from Middleburg Heights, Ohio, recorded his first two collegiate goals on Saturday, including what proved to be the game-winner at the 8:51 mark of the second period. Cook had been held scoreless in his first 12 career games this season, but snapped his scoreless streak last Saturday with an assist in the Lakers' 7-3 win over American International. With the two goals against Clarkson, Cook now has three points in the last two games.

With the Lakers on a five-minute power play in the opening period, sophomore Chris Bodo started the scoring for the Lakers with a power play goal at the 11:39 mark, giving Mercyhurst a 1-0 advantage. The sophomore from St. Thomas, Ontario redirected a shot from sophomore defenseman Tyler Shiplo past Clarkson goaltender Cody Rosen. Bodo's goal was his team-leading eighth goal of the season and was also his sixth power play tally of the year, which, at the moment, ties him for the national lead with St. Lawrence's Greg Carey and Minnesota-Duluth's Mike Seidel. Freshman defenseman Mychal Monteith had the other helper.

Bodo has now scored at least one goal in four straight games and has seven points in his last four contests.

Clarkson outshot Mercyhurst in the opening period, 14-11.

Cook then gave the Lakers a 2-0 lead at the 8:51 mark of the second period with his first collegiate goal. The freshman received a pass from sophomore Zac Frischmon behind the Golden Knight goal and stuffed in a wrap-around attempt for the two-goal advantage. Frischmon, who now has scored a point in back-to-back games, had the lone assist.

Clarkson would get a goal back, its only tally of the night, when Patrick Marsh solved Tibbett, cutting the Mercyhurst lead to 2-1 at the 15:39 mark of the second period. Allan McPherson and Pat Megannety had the assists.

The Golden Knights peppered Tibbett as they outshot Mercyhurst 17-8 in the middle stanza.

Cook put the Lakers back up by two goals at the 2:18 mark of the third period with his second goal of the night. Junior Trent Frey picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone and sent Cook up the left wing. The freshman let go of a slapshot from the top of the left-wing circle, giving the Lakers a 3-1 lead. 

Rosen would be in-and-out of the Clarkson goal in lieu of an extra attacker during the final 2:34 of regulation, but Tibbett and the Lakers would hold their ground and earn their first victory at the Cheel Arena. Tibbett made four saves over the final two minutes, including three in the final 45 seconds to seal the win.

Rosen stopped 25 Mercyhurst shots, as he fell to 0-2-0 on the season. Tibbett evened his record at 3-3-0 on the year. Clarkson outshot Mercyhurst 43-28 for the contest.

Mercyhurst went 1-for-7 on the power play and is now 12-for-37 (32.4%) over the last eight games. Clarkson went 0-for-3 with the man advantage.

The Lakers will get right back to action on Tuesday, December 18 when they host long-time rival Canisius College at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. and will mark the final game of the 2012 portion of the regular season.