Box Score
DURHAM, N.H. – Senior neminder Mathias Lange (Klagenfurt, Austria/New York Apple Core) made 40 saves, but the Rensselaer men's hockey team fell to sixth-ranked New Hampshire, 1-0, in front of 6,015 at Whittemore Center. With the win the Wildcats improve to 2-0-0 on the season, while the Engineers fall to 0-2-0.
After nearly two periods of scoreless play, Peter LeBlanc (Hamilton, ON/Hamilton) put the hosts up 1-0 at 18:25 of the second period. LeBlanc's snap shot from the high slot beat Lange high to his glove side for his second tally of the season. Bobby Butler (Marlboro, MA/Junior Bruins) and Joe Charlebois (Potsdam, NY/Sioux City) picked up the assists.
The Engineers had a number of quality scoring chances early in the first period, but where unable get a puck past UNH junior goaltender Brian Foster (Pembroke, NH/Des Moines). The Wildcats, who were firing from all over the offensive zone held a 7-4 advantage in shots through one period, took a 21-11 edge into the second intermission.
RPI, which took only three penalties in the first two periods combined, was sent to the box five times in the third, including four in a row in the last ten minutes of play. The Wildcats were not able to capitalize, however, as both they and the Engineers finished 0-7 on the man advantage.
Lange, who has taken both defeats in net for RPI this season, recorded 20 saves in the third period alone, keeping the visitors in the game until the final whistle. Foster, who improves to 2-0, finished with 16 stops between the pipes for New Hampshire.
Senior Kurt Colling (Ripley, ON/Vernon Vipers) paced RPI with three shots on goal. He was followed by junior Garett Vassel (Westhampton, NY/New York Apple Core) and sophomores Chase Polacek (Edina, MN/Academy of Holy Angels) and Bryan Brutlag (Lakeville, MN/Academy of Holy Angels), who each had two.
The Wildcats held a 42-28 advantage in face-offs wins, with senior Thomas Fortney (Webster Grove, MO/Waterloo) leading the way, taking 10 of 14 draws. RPI senior captain Matt Angers-Goulet (St. Augustin, PQ/Notre Dame Hounds) was the top Engineer in the circle, winning 10 of 18 face-offs.
Rensselaer is back in action tomorrow night for a Homecoming match-up with Bentley at the Houston Field House (7:07pm).
