Box Score

LOWELL, Mass.--UMass-Lowell scored three goals in the second period to tie the game and two in the third to defeat Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 5-3, in a non-conference men’s hockey game.  With the victory, the River Hawks improve to 1-1-0 overall, while the Engineers are now 0-1-0 overall.

Sophomore Jonathan Ornelas (Mississauga, ON/Milton IceHawks) put Rensselaer ahead 1-0 early in first period when he converted an Oren Eizenman (Toronto, ON/Wexford Raiders) pass for a power play goal.  Brad Farynuk (Enderby, BC/Vernon Vipers) also assisted on the goal.

Senior Kevin Croxton (Calgary, AB/Camrose Kodiaks) put RPI up 2-0 at 4:24 of the second period when he collected a pass from goaltender Mathias Lange (Klagenfurt, Austria/New York Apple Core) and scored to make it 2-0.  Mark Pandolfo (North Andover, MA/Valley Jr. Warriors) pulled the River Hawks within one goal at 7:05 before Rensselaer freshman Reed Kipp (Victoria, BC/Vernon Vipers) netted the Engineers third goal seconds later at 7:42.  Croxton and Eizenman were credited with the assists.  UMass-Lowell got goals from Andrew Martin (Brampton, ONT/ Bramalea Blues) and Danny O'Brien (S. Boston, MA/Cedar Rapids Rough Riders) to tie the game at 3-3 at the end of the second.   

In the third, Pandolfo put UMass-Lowell ahead for good, scoring at 10:50 for the 4-3 lead, and Jason Tejchma (Muskegon, MI/Danville Wings) added insurance midway through the period.

Sophomore Peter Vetri (Windham, NH/Williams Lake Timberwolves) made 24 saves to earn the win while Lange had 37 saves in the RPI goal.