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TROY, N.Y. – Sophomore Allen York made 37 saves to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's hockey team to a 3-1 win over #16 University of New Hampshire (UNH) in a non-league game at the Houston Field House. RPI improves to 1-1-0, while UNH is now 0-1-0.

York (Wetaskiwin, AB/Camrose Kodiaks) stopped nine shots in the first period, 15 in the second and 13 in the third for the victory. Eight of his saves came with the Wildcats skating with the man-advantage.

Sophomore Josh Rabbani (Woodland Hills, CA/St. Louis Bandits) gave the Engineers a 1-0 lead at 14:16 of the first period when he followed up a Chase Polacek (Edina, MN/Academy of Holy Angels) left wing shot with a rebound goal. Senior defenseman Erik Burgdoerfer (East Setauket, NY/New York Apple Core) started the play with a long pass up the left wing boards that Polacek collected. He fired a shot that was stopped but the puck went to Rabbani, who scored from just outside the crease.

UNH tied the game midway through the second period when senior Bobby Butler (Marlboro, MA/Jr. Bruins) sent a shot along the ice that slid under York for a power play goal. Junior Mike Sislo (Superior, WI/Green Bay Gamblers) and senior Peter LeBlanc (Hamilton, ON/Hamilton) earned the assists on the play. The Wildcats held a 16-5 advantage in shots in the middle stanza.

Polacek broke the tie when he scored on a rebound of a Bryan Brutlag (Lakeville, MN/Academy of Holy Angels) shot at 3:24 of the third period. Junior Tyler Helfrich (Calgary, AB/Prince George Spruce Kings) also had a hand in the goal. It was Helfrich who started the play that resulted in RPI's third goal. He came out of the penalty box and moved in on a partial breakaway. His shot was stopped but Brutlag picked up the loose puck and found fellow defenseman Mike Bergin (Ottawa, ON/Smiths Falls Bears), who was cutting down the left side. Bergin's shot found the back of the net for a 3-1 lead at 7:53.

Senior Brian Foster (Pembroke, NH/Des Moines) finished with 27 saves for the Wildcats, who were 1 for 7 on the power play. Rensselaer was 1 for 5 with the extra man.

RPI returns to action in the Brice Alaska Hockey Classic next Friday and Saturday, while the Wildcats host #3 Miami (Ohio) in a two-game set next Friday and Saturday nights.