Box Score / Video

TROY, N.Y. – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) scored a shorthanded goals and two power play goals and the Engineers defeated 18th-ranked Harvard University, 3-2, in an ECAC Hockey game at the Houston Field House. RPI, which was hosting the 6th Annual Black Friday, improves to 2-5-1 overall and 1-1-0 in the league, while the Crimson fall to 2-1-0 and 2-1-0.

After a scoreless first period, RPI broke on top at 3:46 of the second period when junior forward Paul Kerins (Weston, ON/North York Rangers) scored unassisted through the five-hole from the bottom of the right faceoff circle on Harvard freshman goaltender Matt Hoyle (North York, ON/Indiana Ice) for the shorthanded goal.

Senior captain Matt Angers-Goulet (St. Augustin, PQ/Notre Dame Hounds) doubled the home team's margin at 7:25 of the middle stanza with a hard wrist shot from the left faceoff circle into the top corner with the Engineers on the power play. Freshman Patrick Cullen (Washington, DC/Indiana Ice) earned the primary assist while senior Seth Klerer (Thornhill, ON/North York Rangers) was credited with the secondary helper.

Harvard got a goal back at 9:51 of the second period on a snap shot from senior forward Steve Rolecek (Bedford, NH/Phillips Andover). Defense partners Ian Tallett (St. Louis, MO/Chicago) and Alex Biega (Montreal, PQ/Salisbury) set up the goal, Rolacek's first of the season.

The Engineers made it 3-1 with their second power play goal of the night, this time off a slap shot from the high slot by sophomore Chase Polacek (Edina, MN/Academy of Holy Angels) on a 4x3 man advantage. Defenseman Mark Zarbo (Grand Island, NY/Bentley College) and Tyler Helfrich (Calgary, AB/Prince Geoarge Spruce Kings) assisted on the goal, Polacek's second of the season.

The Crimson got the goal back, scoring a power play goal of their own at 13:57, just 2:01 after RPI's third goal. Senior Nick Coskren (Walpole, MA/St. Sebastian's) jammed in a loose puck off a Michael Biega shot. Alex Biega also had an assist.

RPI senior Mathias Lange (Klagenfurt, Austria/New York Apple Core) earned the win, stopping 26 shots. Hoyle stopped 23 shots on the opposite end.

Rensselaer, which is now 5-0-1 all-time on Black Friday, hosts Dartmouth College on Saturday at 7pm while Harvard visits Union College for a 7:30pm faceoff. Both games are ECAC Hockey contests.