With a pulsing crowd behind them at the Field House, the RPI men’s hockey team donned their traditional black uniforms and prepared to square off against Princeton. In their first contest since winning the Governor’s Cup, the Engineers took to the ice as they have in every contest this year: with heart, hustle, and determination to win.
If it was their individual determination that maintained their focus after Princeton’s early 1-0 lead in the first period, then it was their collective drive to win that gave rise to the powerful three goal attack throughout the remainder of the first and second periods. On Friday night, the Field House thrummed with a unique energy. When sophomore Andrei Uryadov scored the equalizer just over a minute after Princeton’s goal, the crowd was jubilant. When senior captain Kirk MacDonald’s goal at 12:07 gave the black clad Engineers the lead, the Field House erupted. And before the second intermission, the Engineers would thrill their fans one more time with a goal from Jake Morissette at 8:05 in the second period. The Engineers would surrender one more, but they held a 3-2 lead entering second intermission.
After a hard fought third period, the Engineers were on the verge of victory. But after an RPI penalty with less than two minutes to play gave Princeton a last ditch opportunity, there was a collective hush. At 1:30, everyone outside of the glass was either holding their breath or groaning as shots zeroed in on the Engineers’ net. With one minute to play, Princeton’s offense was picking up the tempo and our guys were throwing themselves in front of shots and trying to hold their positions at the same time. This is the scene:
With 40 seconds on the clock, there is a scramble in front of the net. It is a mess of men and sticks and skates, and then suddenly the red light goes off. Princeton has scored. There is disaster down on the ice and disbelief in the stands above. It is the quietest one will ever hear four thousand people at a sporting event. Princeton has fought back and tied it and no one can believe it. Heck, people have already left. Overtime it will have to be, and after a quick break, the Engineers return to the ice, facing a revitalized Princeton team and its surging momentum.
But there is something intangible about this year’s team. The reality of clutch players has been argued one way in full and then the other. The notion of a clutch player is almost subjective in nature, and not so simple to break down. But regardless of whether they exist or it is all circumstantial, instead, the RPI men’s hockey team finds ways to win. Forget the fact that they came back and built a lead only to see it melt away. Forget the disheartening feeling of witnessing a dramatic comeback from the wrong side. This is a team that found itself in the hole against tough Colgate last weekend, but then battled back and seized both the victory and the Governor’s Cup. This is a team that regained a national ranking. This is a team.
Maybe it’s as cliché as the training and practice. Maybe it’s just luck or coincidence. Or maybe it’s due in part to a team chemistry lauded by the players before the season even began and it is this chemistry that inspires them to play as they do and never say die.
And maybe this is why, with only 13 seconds remaining in overtime, Seth Klerer found himself in the right position and executed, sending the Field House into an ecstatic uproar and RPI on to victory. It’s not so hard to believe, is it?
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the individual writer and do not necessarily represent those of The Polytechnic or the Sports Department.
