Box Score / Watch (RPI TV)

TROY, N.Y. – Seniors Blake Gallagher (Dartmouth, NS/Notre Dame Hounds) and Colin Greening (St. John's, NL/Nanaimo Clippers) each recorded a goal and an assist to lead the seventh-ranked Cornell men's hockey team to a 2-1 victory over Rensselaer, this evening in ECAC Hockey action, at the Houston Field House. With the win, the Big Red improves to 7-2-1 (6-2-0 ECACH), while the Engineers move to 8-7-1 (3-2-0 ECACH).

Gallagher gave the visitors a 1-0 lead on the power-play at 15:13 of the first period. A shot from the right by Greening was turned away by RPI sophomore netminder Allen York (Wetaskiwin, AB/Camrose Kodiaks), but Gallagher was waiting at the back post to stick home the rebound. Sophomore Sean Whitney (Scituate, MA/Cushing Academy) earned the second assist on Gallagher's team-leading 10th goal of the season.

Cornell nearly made it 2-0 a minute and a half later, but York made a pair of point-blank saves on Big Red junior Tyler Roeszler (Chatham, ON/Chatham Maroons) right in front of the net. Cornell took a 9-7 shooting edge into the first intermission, while converting on 1 of 2 man-advantage opportunities. The Engineers were unsuccessful on their only power-play in the first.

Rensselaer pulled even on a goal by junior Tyler Helfrich (Calgary, AB/Prince George Spruce Kings) at 4:50 of the second frame. Classmate Scott Halpern (Boca Raton, FL/Bay State Breakers) sent a pass up the right wing boards to fellow junior Chase Polacek (Edina, MN/Academy of Holy Angels), who skated toward the right corner before delivering a pass to the mid-slot, where Helfrich finished a one-timer along the ice and inside the left post.

Greening put Cornell back on top for good (2-1) at 11:59 of the second, converting on a 2-on-1 break, in which he roofed a shot over York's glove, into the top right corner of the net. Gallagher and junior Joe Devin (Scituate, MA/Nanaimo Clippers) picked up the helpers on Greening's fifth of the year.

The Engineers outshot the Big Red 11-4 in the second period to take an 18-13 advantage through 40 minutes of play.

RPI had a number of chances to tie the game in the third period, but could not solve Cornell senior netminder Ben Scrivens (Spruce Grove, AB/Spruce Grove Saints) a second time. The Engineers best opportunity came with 14 and a half minutes to go, when freshman Brandon Pirri (Toronto, ON/Georgetown Raiders) took a shot that glanced off the right pipe and sailed through the crease.

Scrivens made 22 saves to earn the victory, while York finished with 17 stops at the other end of the ice. Cornell finished 1 for 3 on the power-play, while RPI went 0 for 5. Rensselaer out-shot the Big Red 23-19.

The Engineers return to action tomorrow afternoon, when they face Colgate (4pm). Cornell visits Union tomorrow night (7pm).