TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men’s hockey team battled back from a two-goal deficit in the third period to tie Brown University, 3-3, at the Houston Field House on Saturday. With the draw, the Engineers move to 5-4-2 overall (4-0-2 ECAC Hockey), while the Bears drop to 1-3-1 (1-2-1 ECAC Hockey).
Trailing 3-1 in the third, the Engineers received goals from sophomore Kenny Gillespie (Morrisville, NC/Jersey Hitmen) and senior Zach Schroeder (Prior Lake, MN/St. Thomas Academy) to pull even with more than half of the period to go.
Gillespie brought RPI to within 3-2 at 5:36 of the frame, tipping in a shot by classmate Jared Wilson (Calgary, AB/Vernon Vipers) for his second goal of the year. Freshman Jesper Ohrvall also had an assist on the play. Just under four minutes later, Schroeder scored, using a Gillespie screen to make it 3-3.
The Bears generated a handful of chances after the game went to overtime, but couldn’t convert on an extra session power play, as Rensselaer freshman goaltender Cam Hackett (Sault Ste. Marie, ON/Lincoln Stars) stopped all three shots he saw in the frame.
Brown freshman Tommy Marchin (Algonac, MI) opened the scoring at 19:24 of the first period, scoring on the power play. Senior Mark Naclerio (Milford, CT) dished the puck off to Marchin, who was standing right in front of the open cage for an easy tap in.
Rensselaer tied the game on junior Riley Bourbonnais’ (Rochester, NY/Lincoln Stars) team-leading sixth goal of the season. Assists went to sophomore Viktor Liljegren (Stockholm, Sweden/Fairbanks Ice Dogs) and senior Phil Hampton (Oakville, ON/Oakville Blades). The power play tally came at 12:06 of the second.
Senior Nick Lappin (Geneva, IL) score in quick succession to start the third, putting the visitors up two (3-1). His goals came at 27 seconds and 2:29 of the period.
Hackett (2-0-2) finished with 29 saves, while Brown junior netminder Tim Ernst (Pickering, ON) had 26 at the other end of the ice. Brown finished 2 for 5 on the power play, while RPI went 1 for 4.
BOURBONNAIS STAYS HOT:
Rensselaer junior Riley Bourbonnais extended his point streak to six games with his goal on Saturday night. The Engineers are 5-1-2 in games which he records a point.
FOUR STRAIGHT IN OVERTIME:
For the second straight game, the Engineers defeated a ranked opponent in overtime. The Engineers topped then 15th-ranked St. Lawrence, 4-3, last Saturday.
SOLID LEAGUE START:
Rensselaer has opened league play with a 4-0-2 record, which is the longest unbeaten start to an RPI league schedule since the 1970-71 squad began with eight straight (6-0-2).
UP NEXT:
The Engineers are back on the ice next Friday, when they visit Bentley for a non-league game (7pm).
Brown hosts Colgate and Cornell, next Friday (7pm) and Saturday (7pm).
