RPI Opens Season by Blanking Bentley

TROY, N.Y. - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) scored three goals in the second period and senior Jordan Alford (Red Deer, AB) made 16 saves as the Engineers opened the 2007-08 college hockey season by shutting out Bentley College, 4-0, at the Houston Field House.

RPI was led by Alford, who made 16 saves to earn his second career shutout, and junior Andrei Uryadov (St. Petersburg, Russia), who had two goals. Junior Matt Angers-Goulet (St. Augustin, PQ) chipped in with a goal and an assist.

The Engineers held a 1-0 lead after the first period on a goal by senior Jonathan Ornelas (Mississauga, ON) at 6:07. Freshman Chase Polacek (Edina, MN) started the play with a pass up the left-side boards to senior Andrew Lord (North Vancouver, BC), who sent a cross-ice pass to Ornelas. The shot by Ornelas, which came from close range, went off Bentley goalie Jason Kearney's (Gibsonia, PA) right leg pad before going over the goal line.

RPI broke it open with it three goals in the second period. The first was scored by Angers-Goulet, who took a feed from Ornelas as the Engineers transitioned up ice and came into the zone on a three-on-one. Angers-Goulet put the puck past Kearney, who got a piece of it.

Uryadov scored the next two goals at the 7:54 and 14:24 marks of the second. His first was kept in the zone by freshman Tyler Helfrich (Calgary, AB), who fed Uryadov and though his initial shot was saved, he put the rebound back past Kearney. Angers-Goulet earned the secondary assist. Uryadov's second goal was also set up by Helfrich. He fed Uryadov from the corner and Uryadov quickly put it in the net.

The Engineers peppered the Falcons and Kearney with 45 shots on goal while only allowing 16 shots. Both teams were scoreless on the power play with RPI having two opportunities while Bentley had five chances with the man-advantage.

Rensselaer is back in action this weekend in St. Paul for the IceBreaker Invitational. The Engineers play Minnesota, the 6th-ranked team in the nation, on Friday at 8:30pm and either #2 Boston College or #9 Michigan on Saturday at 5:30pm. All times are eastern. Bentley plays again next Tuesday at Quinnipiac (7pm).