TROY, N.Y. – Sophomore Viktor Liljegren scored in overtime to lift the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men’s hockey team to a 3-2 victory over 10th-ranked Yale University, on Friday at the Houston Field House. With the win, the Engineers improve to 5-4-1 overall (4-0-1 ECAC Hockey), while the Bulldogs drop to 3-1-1 (1-1-1 ECAC Hockey).
Nearing the midway point of the extra frame, Liljegren (Stockholm, Sweden/Fairbanks Ice Dogs) broke into the offensive zone and drove to the net, before lifting a shot over the right shoulder of Yale junior goaltender Alex Lyon (Baudette, MN) for his first goal of the season. They tally was set up by a diving play at the RPI blue line by RPI junior Parker Reno (Edina, MN/Edina High School), who dove to push the puck of the right wing board for Liljegren.
The Engineers opened the scoring at 1:19 of the first period, when sophomore Drew Melanson (Paramus, NJ/Waterloo Black Hawks) found senior Mark Miller (Massena, NY/Omaha Lancers) alone in the in the high slot. Miller cranked a shot past Lyon for his third of the year. Sophomore Lou Nanne (Edina, MN/Sioux City Stampede) earned the second helper.
Yale pulled even five minutes later on a shot by sophomore Ryan Hitchcock (Manhasset, NY). Assists on his third of the campaign went to freshman Joe Snively (Herndon, VA) and senior Rob O’Gara (Nesconset, NY).
Nanne put the hosts back in front (2-1) at 13:51 of the second stanza, redirecting a shot by Reno for his second goal of the year. Junior Riley Bourbonnais (Rochester, NY/Lincoln Stars) had the second assist.
The Bulldogs then pulled even at 2-2, midway through the third, thanks to freshman Andrew Gaus’ (Wexford, PA) first collegiate tally. The goal, which came on the power play, was assisted on by senior Stu Wilson (Pittsford, NY) and junior Frankie DiChiara (Ronkonkoma, NY).
RPI freshman netminder Cam Hackett (Sault Ste. Marie, ON/Lincoln Stars) finished with 41 saves, including 15 in each of the first two periods. Lyon had 16 stops at the other end of the ice.
Yale finished 1 for 4 on the power play, while the Engineers were 0 for 3.
MORE SAVE:
RPI freshman Cam Hackett had 41 saves, surpassing his previous high of 37, which came last Saturday at St. Lawrence.
BOURBONNAIS STAYS HOT:
Rensselaer junior Riley Bourbonnais extended his point streak to five games with an assist on Friday night. The Engineers are 5-1-1 in games which he records a point, including 3-0-1 when he registers an assist.
BACK-TO-BACK IN OT:
For the second straight game, the Engineers defeated a ranked opponent in overtime. The Engineers topped then 15th-ranked St. Lawrence, 4-3, last Saturday.
GOOD BOUNCE:
Yale hit the post in overtime, not long before the Engineers netted the game-winner at the other end.
SOLID LEAGUE START:
Rensselaer has opened league play with a 4-0-1 record, which is its best start to a season since it won its first five games to begin the 1994-95 campaign.
UP NEXT:
The Engineers are back in action tomorrow night, when they host Brown at the Houston Field House (7pm).
Yale visits Union tomorrow (7pm).
