RPI managed one goal in each period to earn a hard-fought 4-3 win in regulation over the conference rival on Saturday. The win propels RPI to 3-0 in the Liberty League, good enough for a first place tie with Skidmore, and 5-4 overall. The game was the team’s first contest in eleven days after their make-up contest with Kings Point was cancelled for undisclosed reasons.

However, the Red Hawks did not seem fazed, at least on defense, as they made the trip up north. Ryan Michels, who was named Liberty League Defensive Performer of the Week, and the Rensselaer defense combined to display a phenomenal performance of teamwork. The Red Hawks successfully completed 25-26 clear attempts and pestered the Golden Knight shooters all game long.

“Our communication has gotten much better on the clears,” Rensselaer Head Coach Tom Korrie said. “We have been more selective on our passes and the middies have been coming back for the ball and legging it out.” Korrie was particularly pleased with his top midfield line of Adam LoGuidice, Ryan Frisch, and Chris Sherman, who have really bought into the defensive minded scheme the Red Hawks have implemented.

Michels, whom Korrie describes as the “quarterback” in clearing situations, has done an especially excellent job helping his teammates find the open man. The sophomore also outplayed Clarkson goaltender Joe Zebrowski, the 2004 conference tournament’s most outstanding player. Michels made 13 saves and grabbed seven groundballs in the contest while Zebrowski made just 12 saves; the difference in the game.

“Ryan thinks he should stop everything,” Korrie said of his young goaltender. “He strives for perfection, and he is seeing the ball very well right now.”

Of course a goaltender is only as good as his defense, and Saturday the RPI defense stood like a brick wall in front of their netminder. Clarkson only got 29 shots and RPI played excellent one-on-one and zone defense.

“A lot of credit has to go to the defense,” Korrie said. “They stayed with their guys, rotated when they needed to, and made some timely checks on the Clarkson shooters which really disrupted their shots. This allowed Ryan to really see all the shots well, and when that happens a goaltender will make the saves.”

Fortunately for RPI, Michels game was on because the Red Hawks offense was stifled by the combination of Zebrowski, missed opportunities, and some terrible field conditions. RPI managed 35 shots on goal, but only got four past the Clarkson goaltender. Rensselaer was also forced to deal with grass that Korrie described as “quicksand,” as field conditions stopped groundballs and low shots in the thick mud.

“We should have scored more goals,” Korrie said. “It was frustrating when we failed to capitalize on several excellent scoring chances.”

Chris Sherman managed what could be considered an offensive explosion in this low scoring affair, scoring two goals for the Red Hawks; one in the first period, the other in the third. After Sherman’s first goal, LoGuidice tallied an unassisted marker of his own to put RPI up 2-0 at halftime, but Clarkson battled back.

Golden Knight Byran Johnson scored at the 1:30 mark in the third making it a 3-1 game, and Matt Opur scored just 17 seconds into the fourth quarter to reduce the Rensselaer lead to one. Clarkson’s Rich Burritt continued the Clarkson run and evened the score with under seven and a half minutes to play on an unassisted rocket that found nylon.

With Rensselaer reeling, the Golden Knights looked to be on the verge of a spectacular second half comeback. Clarkson had thus far limited RPI’s main offensive threats, Sherman, LoGuidice and Frisch, but they forgot about Mike Sampson. With 6:08 showing on the clock, freshman P.J. McComb located Sampson in front of the net, delivered a perfect pass, and Sampson put it home, giving Rensselaer the lead and eventually the game. Sampson’s heroics earned him Liberty League Rookie of the Week honors.

“Every league game is tough,” Korrie said. “Every team is really only separated by one goal, so anytime you can get a win on the road it’s good.”

The Red Hawks remaining schedule consists of three league games, two of which are against Skidmore and Union on the road. Rensselaer’s lone home game and Senior Day comes this Saturday, April 23, at 1 pm against nationally ranked St. Lawrence, who is 6-4 overall, but just 1-2 in the conference. The Saints, who won last year’s Liberty League regular season title, defeated RPI 11-10 on a last second shot in Canton, N.Y., and are again loaded with offensive firepower.

“It doesn’t matter what we did yesterday, we have to worry about tomorrow,” Korrie said. “Defensively we have stop [St. Lawrence’s] shooters. We know we can play with them; we just have to sustain that level of play for 60 minutes.”