PRINCETON, N.J. – Freshman Jacob Hayhurst scored twice and sophomore Cam Hackett made 48 saves, but the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men’s hockey team fell to Princeton University, 6-5 in overtime, on Saturday night at Hobey Baker Rink. With the win, the Tigers improve to 3-7-1 (1-6-1 ECAC Hockey), while the Engineers drop to 3-14-1 (1-7-0 ECAC Hockey).
The Engineers scored three power play goals in the first period to take a 3-1 lead after one. Sophomore Evan Tironese joined freshmen Jacob Hayhurst and Patrick Polino on the scoresheet, while sophomore Max Veronneau netted the lone Princeton tally in the opening stanza.
After Hayhurst made it a 4-1 game at 11:04 of the second, David Hallisey and Veronneau each netted man advantage goals for the Tigers – at 13:47 and 14:47, respectively, to pull the hosts within 4-3.
Junior Viktor Liljegren gave Rensselaer a two-goal cushion (5-3) midway through the third, but Princeton came right back to make it 5-4 on Hallisey’s second goal of the night at 14:21.
With Colton Phinney pulled for an extra attacker, Princeton tied the game at 5-5 with just 46 seconds remaining. Ryan Kuffner netted the equalzing goal from Veronneau and Hallisey.
Josh Teves then buried the overtime-winner on a shot from the left circle, with 1:57 remaining in the extra session. Helpers on the power play goal went to Kuffner and Veronneau.
Hackett had a combined 27 saves in the third period and overtime, giving him 95 on the weekend. Phinney ended up with 17.
The Engineers are back in action next weekend, when they visit Yale and Brown on Friday (7pm) and Saturday (4pm), respectively. Princeton opens a home-and-home series with No. 5 Quinnipiac on Friday at Hobey Baker Rink (7pm).
