TROY, N.Y. – Freshman Brendan Warren scored his first two collegiate goals to help the 11th-ranked University of Michigan men’s hockey team to a 5-2 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), Saturday evening, in front of a sellout crowd of 4,646 at the Houston Field House. With the win, the Wolverines improve to 3-0-1, while the Engineers drop 1-4.
Warren (Carleton, MI) opened the scoring at 2:40 of the first period, shooting through a screen to beat RPI senior netminder Jason Kasdorf (Winnipeg, MB/Des Moines Buccaneers) from the low left circle. Freshman Cooper Marody (Brighton, MI) and sophomore Cutler Martin (East Lansing, MI) picked up the helpers on Warren’s first ever Michigan tally.
The Wolverines made it 2-0 just 28 seconds into the second stanza and an acrobatic shot by junior Tyler Motte (St. Clair, MI). Sliding on his stomach, he one-handed the puck inside the left post for his third goal of the year.
Rensselaer drew to within 2-1 at 5:03 of the second, when senior Zach Schroeder (Prior Lake, MN/St. Thomas Academy) stuck home a rebound from just outside the Michigan crease. Junior Parker Reno (Edina, MN/Edina) had his point shot turned away by Wolverines’ junior goalie Zach Nagelvoort (Holland, MI), but the rebound fell to RPI senior Travis Fulton (Oakville, ON/Vaughan Vipers). Fulton had his attempt blocked, before Schroeder swept it home.
Michigan went back on top by a pair of goals (3-1) at 15:11 of the second, taking advantage of a errant pass at the blue line. Freshman Joseph Cecconi (Youngstown, NY) found sophomore Tony Calderone (Trenton, MI) all alone in the middle of the slot and he roofed a shot over Kasdorf’s glove.
Junior Jake Wood (Georgetown, ON/Lincoln Stars) again brought the hosts to within a goal (3-2), with a power play tally at 12:27 of the third. Left alone in the right corner, Wood walked the puck the front of the cage, before sticking it past Nagelvoort for his second goal of the year. Assists went to sophomore defensemen Viktor Liljegren (Stockholm, Sweden/Fairbanks Ice Dogs) and Mike Prapavessis (Oakville, ON/Toronto Patriots).
The visitors answered at 17:04, with Warren picking up his second of the game on a deflection in front of goal. A shot from the left circle by Calderone was tipped in by Warren for the 4-2 lead. Motte added an empty-netter with 1:34 to play.
Kasdorf (1-4) finished with 23 saves, while Nagelvoort (2-0) had 19, including nine in the third period. RPI went 1 for 3 on the man advantage, while the Wolverines were 0 for 2.
FIRST TWO:
The two goals by Michigan freshman Brendan Warren were the first of his collegiate career.
TWO IN TWO:
RPI Junior Jake Wood netted is second goal in as many games.
POWERING UP:
After going 0 for 5 on the power play in their season opener at 14th-ranked UMass Lowell, the Engineers have scored a power play goal in each of their last four contests.
UP NEXT:
RPI opens up a home-and-home series with No. 18 Union next Friday in Schenectady (7pm). The two teams will square off at the Houston Field House on Saturday (7pm).
The Wolverines host Robert Morris for a two-game series next weekend.
