TROY, N.Y. – Senior goaltender Merrick Madsen stopped all 32 shots he faced to lead the Harvard University men’s hockey team to a 3-0 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) on Friday night at Bright-Landry Hockey Center. With the win, the Crimson improve to 6-6-1 overall (5-3-0 ECAC Hockey), while the Engineers drop to 3-14-3 (2-6-1 ECAC Hockey).
Madsen (Acton, CA/Minot Minotaurs) made 11 stops in the first period, 14 in the second and seven in the third. RPI freshman Linden Marshall (Victoria, BC/Trail Smoke Eaters) turned away 39 at the other end of the ice, including all 14 in the third period.
The Crimson broke onto the scoreboard at 10:11 of the first period, when junior Ryan Donato (Scituate, MA/Dexter School) fired home his 13th goal of the season from between the circles. Helpers went to classmate Lewis Zerter-Gossage (Montreal, PQ/Penticton Vees) and freshman Reilly Walsh (North Falmouth, MA/Proctor Academy).
Sophomore Ty Pelton-Byce (Madison, WI/Des Moines Buccaneers) doubled the hosts’ advantage at 16:28 of the period, redirecting a centering pass from freshman Jack Badini (Old Greenwich, CT/Chicago Steel) past Marshall for his third of the year.
Badini then added an unassisted tally 1:58 into the second stanza, stealing the puck at the top of the RPI zone and shooting inside the right post for his fourth on the season.
The Engineers had chances to get on the board late in the first period and during the second, but were unable to beat Madsen, who earned his third shutout of the year and 10th of his career.
RPI turned in two opportunities early in the third, but a shot from the blue by sophomore Charlie Manley (Orchard Park, NY/Estevan Bruins) was stopped and the rebound attempt from junior Evan Tironese (Qualicum Beach, BC/Alberni Valley Bulldogs) was kicked away by Madsen.
Senior captain Jared Wilson (Calgary, AB/Vernon Vipers) finished with a team-high five shots, while juniors Tironese and Brady Wiffen (St. Mary’s, ON/Trenton Golden Hawks) each had four. Both team were 0 for 2 on the power play.
Rensselaer is back on the ice tomorrow night, when it visits Dartmouth (7pm). Harvard welcomes Union to town tomorrow (7pm).
