February 29, 2008

Engineers Edge Bears

Box Score

PROVIDENCE, RI -- The Rensselaer men's hockey team scored two goals in the last two minutes, leading it to a, 2-1, comeback victory over Brown, Friday night at Meehan Auditorium. With the win the Engineers improve to 11-20-4 overall and 6-12-3 in ECAC Hockey play. The Bears fall to 5-19-4 overall and 5-13-3 in the league.

Peter Merth (New Westminster, BC) tied game at 1-1, with 2:04 to go in the game. His shot through a screen beat Brown netminder Dan Rosen (Syosset, NY). Junior Matt Angers-Goulet (St. Augustin, PQ), who fed the puck over to Merth, recorded the lone assist.

Just 31 seconds later, a Scott Halpern (Boca Raton, FL) centering pass deflected off of the skate of a Brown defenseman and past Rosen, to give RPI the lead. Chase Polacek (Edina, MN) and Merth added assists.

After a first period, in which neither team created many offensive opportunities, Brown out shot Rensselaer seven to six. The two schools took a scoreless draw in the first intermission.

The second period produced more of the same, with the Engineers penalty kill helping keep the game scoreless. RPI converted 4-4 short-handed situations in the first two periods. Mathias Lange (Klagenfurt, Austria) made 17 saves in the second.

Brown scored the first goal of the game less than a minute into the third period. Ryan Garbutt (Winnipeg, MAN) finished on the power-play to put the Bear ahead 1-0. Devin Timberlake (Port Alberni, BC) and Jeff Prough (Farmington Hills, MI) picked up the helpers.   Lange finished with 32 saves for Rensselaer, while Rosen finished with 22 stops.

The Engineers return to action tomorrow night at Yale (5:30pm).