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TROY, N.Y. – Senior forward Bryan Brutlag scored just 20 seconds into overtime to give Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) a 3-2 win over Bowling Green State University (BGSU) in the championship game of the 60th Annual Rensselaer Invitational at the Houston Field House.

With the victory, the 17th-ranked Engineers improve to 7-3-3 and capture their own tournament for the 17th time and the first time since 2001. The Falcons fall to 6-10-0.

Brutlag (Lakeville, MN/Academy of Holy Angels), the tournament Most Valuable Player, scored the game-winner when he slipped behind the defense, collected a pass from linemate Chase Polacek (Edina, MN/Academy of Holy Angels) and beat the goaltender in a one-on-one situation. Junior Patrick Cullen (Washington, DC/Indiana Ice), who had a strong bid just 10 seconds earlier, picked up the secondary assist.

The overtime session was forced when Bowling Green scored with just 9.4 seconds remaining in regulation when David Solway (Green Bay, WI) deflected a Brett Mohler (Yorba Linda, CA) right point shot past a screened Allen York (Wetaskiwin, AB/Camrose Kodiaks).with the Falcons' netminder on the bench for an extra attacker.

Following a scoreless first period, the Engineers notched the first two goals, scoring just 1:19 apart early in the second period. Senior Tyler Helfrich (Calgary, AB/Prince George Spruce Kings) put the home team ahead when he knocked in a loose puck on the goal mouth at the 3:19 mark. Defenseman Jeff Foss (Moorhead, MN/Moorhead HS) started the play at the right point, where his shot was deflected into the air to Marty O'Grady (London, ON/Wellington Dukes). O'Grady's shot was stopped but not controlled and Helfrich pushed the puck over the line.

Sophomore defenseman Nick Bailen (Fredonia, NY/Indiana Ice), who played for Bowling Green in 2008-09, doubled RPI's lead when he skated the puck from the defensive zone and across the offensive blue line, where he ripped a snap shot into the back of the net. Freshman Bo Dolan (St. Paul, MN/Penticton Vees) earned the only assist – his first career point.

Bowling Green pulled to within one when sophomore forward Jordan Samuels-Thomas (South Windsor, CT) scored a power play goal from the bottom of the right face-off circle. Samuels-Thomas tallied his fifth of the season on a shot that hit off RPI goaltender and crossed the goal line. Jake Sloat (Louisville, CO) and Mohler assisted on the play.

York finished with 24 saves in the win, while sophomore Andrew Hammond (Surrey, BC) stopped 16 shots in defeat.

Joining Brutlag on the All-Tournament Team was Polacek, Helfrich and Samuels-Thomas as forwards, Bailen and Foss on defense and York in goal.

RPI is back to ECAC Hockey action when it returns to the ice next weekend, traveling to Yale, the #3 team in the nation, on Friday (7pm) and Brown on Saturday (4pm). Bowling Green plays at CCHA foe Lake Superior State next Friday and Saturday nights. Both games begin at 7:05pm.