RPI Outlasts Big Green

HANOVER, N.H. - Three second period goals propelled the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's hockey team to a 7-4 victory over Dartmouth, this evening at Thompson Arena. The Engineers improve to 6-3-2 overall (1-1-2 ECAC Hockey), while the Big Green falls to 3-2-0 (2-2-0).

Dartmouth got on the scoreboard first as J.T. Wyman (Wayzata, MN) scored 21 seconds into the game to give the Big Green an early 1-0 lead. He was assisted by Evan Stephens (Bessemer, MI).

Andrei Uryadov (St. Petersburg, Russia) would answer at 5:36 on the power play. His goal was assisted by Tyler Helfrich and Chase Polacek (Edina, MN).

Polacek gave the Engineers a 2-1 lead at 7:40 of the first period. The even strength goal was assisted by Helfrich and Matt Angers-Goulet (St. Augustine, PQ).

Andrei Uryadov buried a rebound after Kurt Colling (Ripley, ON) had his breakaway chance stopped by Big Green goaltender Mike Devine (Orchard Park, NY) to give the Engineers a, 3-1, lead at xxx of the second period. Colling's attempt on goal was stopped, but Ureyadov was able to clean up for his fifth goal of the season.

Just seconds into Darmouth's second power play of the game, senior Jake Morissette (Fruitvale, BC) ripped a one-timer for short handed goal at xxx of the second. Morissette's goal was assisted by classmate Jonathan Ornelas (Mississauga, ON).

Later in that power play, at 16:49 of the period, Scott Fleming (Plainfield, ON) redirected a shot past Jordan Alford (Red Deer, AB) to bring the Big Green within two scores, at 4-2. Stephens and Matt Reber (Edina, MN) were credited with assists on the man advantage tally for Dartmouth.

Matt Angers-Goulet (St. Augustine, PQ) scored the Engineers third goal of the period, when he took a pass from Helfrich and beat Devine for his fourth goal of the season at 19:50 of the second stanza. Freshman forward Polacek added an assist to the Angers-Goulet goal that put RPI up 5-2, going into the third period.

Rensselaer made it 6-2 at 12:53 of the third period. Morissette finished a well executed scoring play for his second goal of the game and third of the season. Starting at Rensselaer's offensive blue line, Kurt Colling fed a pass to xxx who found Morissette for the tally.

The Big Green cut the Engineer lead to 6-3 at 16:08 of the third period.

Polacek added a length of the ice, empty-net goal for his second of the game at 18:43 of the third stanza. He backhanded the puck into the air and found the back of the Big Green net to extend Rensselaer's lead to four goals once again.

Darmouth scored with 27 seconds remaining for its fourth goal of the game. Reber scored from just inside the slot for his first career goal.

Alford, who picked up the win for the Engineers, made 32 saves and improved to 4-1-1 on the season. Devine, who falls to 3-2, made 16 saves in defeat.