Box Score

POTSDAM, N.Y. – Freshman Johnny Rogic broke a 1-1 tie early in the third period as the 14th-ranked Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's hockey team went on to defeat Clarkson University, 5-1, at Cheel Arena. With the win, the Engineers snap a three-game losing streak and improve to 19-9-4 overall (11-8-1 ECAC Hockey). The Golden Knights drop to 14-16-2 on the season (8-11-1 ECAC Hockey).

The Engineers currently sit in fifth place in ECAC Hockey with two games to play. RPI (23 points) sits one point behind both Dartmouth and Cornell, which are tied for third place. The Engineers can now finish as high as third and as low as sixth.

Tied at one apiece in the third period, freshman Matt Tinordi (Severna Park, MD/Olds Grizzlys) worked the puck from behind the Clarkson net to Rogic (North Vancouver, BC/Alberni Valley Bulldogs), who finished his own rebound at the right side of the cage. The goal, which gave the visiting Engineers the lead for good at 4:05 of the frame, was Rogic's third of the season. Tyler Helfrich (Calgary, AB/Prince George Spruce Kings) earned the second assist, giving him 100 points for his career, which makes the senior the 61st player in RPI history to join the Century Club.

Rensselaer made it 3-1 on a tip-in by sophomore Greg Burgdoerfer (East Setauket, NY/Air Force Academy). After winning a face-off in the offensive zone, senior Joel Malchuk (Brandon, MB/Dauphin Kings) flipped a shot on goal that Burgdoerfer redirected past Clarkson junior goaltender Paul Karpowich (Thunder Bay, ON/Wellington Dukes) for his third goal of the year.

Freshman defenseman Guy Leboeuf (West Palm Beach, FL/Cornwall Cougars) then earned his first collegiate point – an unassisted empty goal from the red line – at 18:16 of the third. Picking up the puck near his own bench, he lifted it down the ice and into the open cage. Junior Alex Angers-Goulet (St. Augustin, PQ/Langley Chiefs) capped the scoring, when he picked off a pass at the Golden Knights blue line and beat Karpowich five-hole for a short-handed tally at 19:55.

Clarkson opened the scoring at 2:48 of the first period on a power-play goal by senior Brandon DeFazio (Oakville, ON/Oakville Blades). Classmate Bryan Rufenach (Barrie, ON/Lindsay Muskies) took a shot from the point that was redirected by DeFazio over the shoulder of RPI junior netminder Allen York (Wetaskiwin, AB/Camrose Kodiaks) for his team-leading 12th goal of the season. Freshman Jarrett Burton (Echo Bay, ON/Kingston Voyaguers) earned the second helper.

Sophomore Marty O'Grady (London, ON/Wellington Dukes) tied the game (1-1) at 8:31 of the second period when he buried the rebound off a close in try by junior Josh Rabbani (Woodland Hills, CA/St. Louis Bandits). Senior Jeff Foss (Moorhead, MN/Moorhead) picked up the second assist on O'Grady's sixth goal.

York (17-7-3) made 20 saves including nine in the third period. Karpowich (14-15-2) turned away 29 shots at the other end of the ice.

The Engineers return to action next Friday and Saturday, when they host Princeton (7pm) and Quinnipiac (7pm) at the Houston Field House. Saturday's game will also be Senior Night.