TROY, N.Y. – Freshman Alex Rodriguez scored his first collegiate goal to lift the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men’s hockey team to a 4-3 victory over the University of New Hampshire, on Tuesday at the Houston Field House. With the win, the Engineers extend their unbeaten streak to eight games and improve to 7-4-2 on the season. The Wildcats drop to 3-6-3, despite a natural hat trick from Andrew Poturalski.
Rodriguez (Miami, FL/Sioux City Musketeers) broke a 3-3 tie at 15:59 of the third period with his first goal as an Engineer. Junior Parker Reno (Edina, MN/Edina High School) found senior Travis Fulton (Oakville, ON/Vaughen Vipers) open in the right circle for a low shot towards goal. Rodriguez redirected the puck under the crossbar for the eventual game-winner.
The Engineers opened the scoring at 2:54 of the first period. Sophomore Mike Prapavessis (Oakville, ON/Toronto Patriots) picked up a loose puck along the boards and skated to the top of the circle, before firing through the legs of UNH sophomore goaltender Danny Tirone (Trumbull, CT/Bruins). The unassisted tally was Prapavessis’ second in as many games.
Almost six minutes into the second period, sophomore Drew Melanson (Paramus, NJ/Waterloo Black Hawks) made it 2-0, burying a rebound at the right side of the net. Senior Mark Miller (Massena, NY/Omaha Lancers) and sophomore Lou Nanne (Edina, MN/Sioux Falls Stampede) each had their shots turned away, before Melanson was able to shoot into an half-open cage.
RPI pushed its advantage to 3-0 at 9:09 of the second, when junior Riley Bourbonnais (Rochester, NY/Lincoln Stars) cleaned up a loose puck that was lying in the New Hampshire crease. A shot by classmate Jake Wood (Georgetown, ON/Lincoln Stars) was stopped, but not held by Tirone. Bourbonnais crashed the net and found the puck behind the Wildcats goalie for the easy finish.
The visitors then mounted a comeback, beginning with a delayed penalty tally by Poturalski (Williamsville, NY/Cedar Rapids) on a tip from just in front of the net. A shot from the blue line by freshman Matt Dawson (Delta, BC/Green Bay) changed course thanks to Poturalski’s stick and found the back of the net.
Poturalski then made it 3-2 on the ensuing power play. His second of three goals on the night was wired between RPI freshman netminder Cam Hackett (Sault Ste. Marie, ON/Lincoln Stars) and the left post. Helpers went to junior Mathias Cleland (Longmont, CO/Omaha) and sophomore Cameron Marks (North Vancouver, BC/Coquitlam).
The tying goal came at 1:04 of the third as Poturalski scored off a feed from sophomore John Furgele (Glen Mills, PA/New Jersey).
Hackett (4-0-2) finished with 35 saves, including 15 in the third period alone. Tirone had 34 stops, with 12 coming in each of the final two stanzas. The Engineers were 0 for 2 on the power play, while New Hampshire finished 1 for 4.
UNBEATEN STREAK EXTENDED:
The Engineers pushed their unbeaten streak to eight games (6-0-2) with their win over the Wildcats.
BOURBONNAIS BOUNCES BACK:
After being held off the scoresheet at Bentley, RPI junior Riley Bourbonnais recorded a goal in the win over UNH.
THREE IN A ROW VS. UNH:
For the just the third time in series history, RPI has won three consecutive games against New Hampshire.
FIRST GOAL:
Freshman Alex Rodriguez scored the first goal of his collegiate career in the third period. It stood as the game-winner.
UP NEXT:
The Engineers return to action this weekend, when they travel to South Bend, Ind. for the Shillelagh Tournament, hosted by Notre Dame. They open against Western Michigan on Friday (4:05pm).
New Hampshire hosts Bentley on Saturday (7pm).
