TROY, N.Y. – Freshman Tanner Laczynski scored the eventual game-winning goal and added an assist to lead the 14th-ranked Ohio State University men’s hockey team to a 3-2 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), on Saturday night at the Houston Field House. With the win, the Buckeyes sweep the two-game series and improve to 8-1-4, while the Engineers drop to 2-10-1.
Ohio State opened the second game of the series in similar fashion the to the first, scoring a rebound goal late in the first period. Junior Luke Stork (Pittsburgh, PA) got the final touch on a puck that bobbled away from RPI sophomore netminder Chase Perry (Andover, MN/Wenatchee Wild), knocking it just over the goal line for fourth goal of the year. Assists went to freshman Matt Miller (East Palestine, OH) and sophomore Mason Jobst (Speedway, IN).
Freshman Jacob Hayhurst (Missassauga, ON/Cedar Rapids RoughRiders) brought the hosts even at 4:58 of the second, working his out of the right corner, before snapping a shot over the left shoulder of Ohio State senior goaltender Matt Tomkins (Sherwood Park, AB). Senior captain Riley Bourbonnais (Rochester, NY/Lincoln Stars) and junior Viktor Liljegren (Stockholm, Sweden/Fairbanks Ice Dogs) picked up the helpers on Hayhurst’s first collegiate tally.
The Buckeyes then received a first career goal from freshman Sam McCormick (De Pere, WI) at 9:51 of the second, as his backhander found its way inside Perry and the left post for a 2-1 lead. Laczynski (Shorewood, IL) and sophomore John Wiitala (Lakeville, MN) were credited with the assists and the go-ahead tally.
RPI answered once again, as Bourbonnais buried a one-timer at the edge of the crease, following two quick passes around the zone from junior Jared Wilson (Calgary, AB/Vernon Vipers) and freshman Patrick Polino (Buffalo, NY/Lincoln Stars). The 5-on-3 power play goal came at 12:44 of the second.
Laczynski then recorded the only goal of the third, gathering a loose puck at the RPI blue line and racing in on a 2-on-1 one. He fired past Perry’s glove at 9:56 of the period for his fifth goal of the campaign.
The Engineers pulled Perry for an extra attacker with just under two minutes to play, but could not find an equalizing goal for a third time.
???????Tomkins (6-1-3) finished with 22 saves, while Perry (1-8-1) matched is RPI-high with 37, including 13 in each of the first two periods. The Engineers were 2 for 5 on the power play, while the Buckeyes finished 0 for 3.
Rensselaer is back on the ice this Tuesday, when they travel to New Hampshire (7pm). Ohio State is idle until December 2 and 3, when it visits the University of Minnesota to open Big Ten play.
