TROY, N.Y. – Senior Jason Kasdorf made 44 saves to lead the 20th-ranked Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men’s hockey team to a 1-0 victory over eighth-ranked Cornell University on Friday at the Houston Field House. With the win, the Engineers improve to 12-7-4 overall (5-1-4 ECAC Hockey), while the Big Red drop to 11-3-2 (6-2-1 ECAC Hockey).
Kasdorf (Winnipeg, MB/Des Moines Buccaneers) was tested early and often as Cornell racked up 13 shots in the opening frame.
RPI had its share of early chances, including one from senior Milos Bubela (Banska Bystica, Slovakia/Dubuque Fighting Saints), who made a nice move to split a pair of Big Red defensemen, but his rising shot missed over the top of the net, from between the circles.
Midway through the second, the Engineers came close to breaking the deadlock, when the rebound of a shot by sophomore Kenny Gillespie (Morrisville, NC/Jersey Hit Men) fell to freshman Tommy Grant (Sparta, NJ/Bay State Breakers). Grant’s follow up attempt rang off the left pipe and was covered by Big Red junior netminder Mitch Gillam (Peterborough, ON/Chilliwack Chiefs), before the Engineers could pounce.
Senior captain Chris Bradley (Williamsville, NY/Youngstown Phantoms) did get Rensselaer on the board at 14:12 of the period, taking a cross-ice feed from sophomore Mike Prapavessis (Oakville, ON/Toronto Patriots) and rifling it through the legs of Gilliam, for his first goal of the year.
The Engineers had to endure over a minute of 5-on-3 penalty kill time early in the third, but were able to thwart every chance that was thrown their way.
RPI continued to generate chances, despite the large disparity in shots on goal (44-16) in favor of the Big Red. Gillespie had an opportunity to put the game away with four minutes left in regulation, but his shot on a 2-on-1 missed the net by inches.
Both teams finished 0 for 2 on the power play. Kasdorf (6-5-2) had 17 saves in the second period and 14 in the third. Gillam (11-3-2) had 15 saves, including seven in the first period.
HOME SHUTOUTS:
RPI senior Jason Kasdorf recorded his second consecutive home league shutout on Friday, when he blanked No. 8 Cornell, 1-0. He also shut out then-No. 4 Harvard in a scoreless tie on December 5.
FIRST GOAL:
Senior defenseman and captain Chris Bradley netted his first goal of the season on Friday against Cornell. He now eight goals in his collegiate career.
LEADER OF THE PACK:
With his assist on RPI’s only goal on Friday against the Big Red, sophomore Mike Prapavessis takes over the team’s assist lead with 11.
UP NEXT:
The Engineers are home tomorrow night for a match-up with Colgate (7pm).
Cornell travels to Schenectady to take on Union tomorrow (7pm).
