Rensselaer (11-10-3, 5-3-3) downed Brown (3-11-4, 2-7-2), 3-1, as all four goals were scored in the second period, including two for RPI in a span of 45 seconds.
The two teams played a scoreless first period with RPI outshooting Brown, 11-6, during the opening 20:00 despite the Bears having three power-play chances. However, sophomore leading scorer Jeff Prough nearly gave Brown a 1-0 lead with about 8:00 left in the first. With RPI on their only power-play opportunity of the period, Prough beat an Engineer defender to the puck and skated in on a one-on-one with goalie Mathias Lange, but Lange saved Prough’s shot to keep Brown off the board.
RPI scored two goals in a span of 45 seconds less than five minutes into the second period to break open the game and take a 2-0 lead at 3:18 of the second. Both goals came off defensive miscues in the Brown zone, the first on a power-play and the second even-strength. Kurt Colling scored the first one tapping in the rebound on the doorstep of Adam D’Alba and Keith MC[nl]Williams scored the second on an odd-man rush as the Brown defense broke down.
Prough brought Brown to within one at 7:34 when he one-time the puck past Lange off a feed from freshman Matt Vokes. Prough and Vokes combined on a great give-and-go for the goal, which was scored with five seconds left on a Brown power play.
However, the Engineers regained the two-goal advantage when Jonathan Ornelas’ shot from the slot went in off D’Alba’s skate. Ornelas’ goal was the final of the contest, through Prough nearly made it a 3-2 game with just under 5:00 left in the game. After Lange saved Vokes’ shot, the rebound went out to Prough, who had Lange beat, but his shot hit the post as Brown was unable to get any closer.
In net for Brown, D’Alba recorded 33 saves, while Lange stopped 15 shots in net for Rensselaer, as the Bears were outshot 36-16.
