TROY, N.Y. – Junior Riley Bourbonnais scored two goals and senior Jason Kasdorf made 36 saves to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men’s hockey team to a 2-1 victory over first-ranked Boston College, at the Houston Field House on Sunday. With the win, the Engineers improve to 1-1 on the season, while the Eagles drop to 1-1.
After a scoreless first period, Bourbonnais (Rochester, NY/Lincoln Stars) opened the scoring at 19:14 of the second, snapping a shot past Boston College junior goaltender Thatcher Demko (San Diego, CA/USA U-18 Team) from the right circle. The puck found its way through a screen and between Demko’s pads for a 1-0 RPI advantage.
The Engineers went up 2-0 at 3:02 of the third, when Bourbonnais finished off a 3-on-2 rush up ice. Sophomore defenseman Jared Wilson (Calgary, AB/Vernon Vipers) fed freshman Evan Tironese (Qualicum Beach, BC/Alberni Valley Bulldogs) on a drop pass at the top of the right circle. Tironese then found a cutting Bourbonnais, who beat Demko blocker side for his second of the contest.
Boston College quickly drew to within 2-1, as sophomore Zach Sanford (Manchester, NH/Waterloo) redirected a feed from the blue line by senior Teddy Doherty (Hopkinton, MA/Dubuque) under the left pad of Kasdorf. The second assist went to sophomore Alex Tuch (Baldwinsville, NY/US U-18 Team).
BC continued to pressure late in the third, but Kasdorf and the RPI defense stood its ground and the Engineers held on for the win.
Kasdorf finished with 36 saves, while Demko had 26. The Engineers blocked 45 shots in the game, including 18 in each of the final two periods.
RPI went 1 for 4 with two shots on the power play, while the Eagles were 1 for 5 with eight shots.
BEATING NO. 1:
The Engineers knock off the first-ranked team in the nation for the first time since January 29, 2011, when they beat Yale, 5-2, in the 34th Big Red Freakout!
SCORING IN BUNCHES:
Of the seven goals Riley Bourbonnais has scored for RPI, three came in one game (a hat trick against Union on Oct. 31, 2014) and two came against BC.
KASDORF SHINES:
For the second straight game Jason Kasdorf made 35+ saves, turning away 36 of the 37 shots he faced.
GIVING UP THE BODY:
RPI blocked 45 against the Eagles, including 18 in the second and third periods.
TIRONESE EFFECT:
Freshman Evan Tironese had an impact in first collegiate game, helping set up both RPI tallies.
UP NEXT:
RPI travels to Fairbanks for the Alaska Goal Rush next weekend. The Engineers face Fairbanks on Friday (4:07pm AT) and Fairbanks on Saturday (7:04pm AT).
The Eagles host Wisconsin for a two-game set next weekend.
