Eleven games have passed since The Polytechnic last wrote about men’s ice hockey. Among these games were contests against Dartmouth, Harvard, Arizona State, Miami University, Princeton, Cornell, Colgate, Quinnipiac University, and Union College. Notably, the Engineers tied Harvard after losing to them only a week before. Rensselaer also tied in their game against Eastern College Athletic Conference number one ranked Quinnipiac 2-2. The record for Rensselaer over these games was 5-2-4. Most recently, the Engineers challenged Union College for the Mayor’s Cup.
Rensselaer fought hard against Quinnipiac in their game last Thursday, January 21. Although the game ended in a tie, the Engineers had them on the ropes for the majority of the game, well into the third period. The game was scoreless in the first, but senior forward Zach Schroeder scored for RPI 16 minutes into the second. Five minutes into the third period, senior forward Mark Miller put up another goal assisted by senior forward Milos Bubela reaching a two point lead. This has been quoted as the most dangerous circumstance in hockey because almost immediately afterward, the Quinnipiac scored once, causing panic, then again, tying the game. Quinnipiac’s first goal came seconds after the Engineers’ two point lead was achieved. The last goal of the game was another one by Quinnipiac with less than ten seconds left in the third. Quinnipiac achieved a power play 14 seconds into the overtime, yet neither team was able to score, leaving the game in a tie.
On Saturday at Times Union Center in Albany, the Engineers started their game against Union strong with a goal from sophomore forward Lou Nanne assisted by senior defenseman Chris Bradley and sophomore forward Drew Melanson. Union answered with one of their own less than two minutes later. Sophomore defenseman Mike Prapavessis scored an unassisted goal 13 minutes into the game. Shortly after Prapavessis’s goal, Rensselaer faced an elbowing penalty. This gave Union the opportunity to once again tie the game. The score stayed stagnant through the end of the period despite another power play opportunity for Union.
The second period only presented one goal scored by junior forward Jimmy DeVito for the Engineers 13 minutes into the period. RPI only faced four shots on their net and kept the lead while putting double the number of shots on the Union goalkeeper. The Engineers also had a power play opportunity but did not capitalize on the chance with a goal.
Even though the Engineers faced another penalty kill in the third period, Union was unable to answer another two goals put up by senior defenseman Phil Hampton and Melanson respectively. The game ended with a final score of 5-2, the third win for Rensselaer over Union this season.
The statistics do not necessarily reflect Rensselaer’s winning trend. In this game for example, the Engineers won by three goals but faced more shots on goal. Union also won twice as many face offs as Rensselaer (40-20). Finally, Union had three power play opportunities against the Engineer’s one.
RPI is headed to Brown University on Friday for a 7 pm game.