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TROY, N.Y. – Zach Schroeder and C.J. Lee scored 26 seconds apart in the first period, but the Harvard men's hockey team fought back to earn a 2-2 draw with Rensselaer in ECAC Hockey action from the Houston Field House. With the tie the Engineers are now 3-16-1 overall (1-7-1 ECACH), while the Crimson move to 4-5-6 (3-3-4 ECACH).

RPI took an early lead when Schroeder (Prior Lake, MN/Saint Thomas Academy) deflected a Marty O'Grady (London, ON/Wellington Dukes) right-point shot past Harvard freshman netminder Steve Michalek (Glastonbury, CT/Loomis Chaffee) at 5:11 of first period. Junior Nick Bailen (Fredonia, NY/Indiana Ice) started the play at the far boards, where he passed the puck to O'Grady at the opposite point. O'Grady sent the puck toward the net, where a driving Schroeder scored his third of the season.

It didn't take long for the Engineers to double their lead, as Lee (Staten Island, NY/Green Bay Gamblers) scored from the door-step. Sophomore Brock Higgs (Kingston, ON/Kingston Voyageurs) sent the puck across the crease, allowing Lee an open net for his second of the season. Freshman Ryan Haggerty (Stamford, CT/U.S. National Dev. Team) also earned an assist on the play.

Harvard pulled to within a goal at 7:27 when its potent power play – the top in the nation – converted its first chance. A Dan Ford (Skaneateles, NY/Sioux City drive from the blueline was deflected by Colin Blackwell (North Andover, MA/St. John's Prep). Senior Eric Kroshus (Calgary, AB/Penticton) then picked up the rebound and patiently waited before shooting the puck into the top half of the net. The power play goal marked the 18th straight game the Crimson have connected with the man-advantage.

A spin move in the low slot by Blackwell set up the game-tying goal, as he was then able to backhanded a shot past RPI freshman netminder Scott Diebold (Buffalo, NY/Tri-City Storm) at 1:34 of the third period. Kroshus earned the lone assist on Blackwell's fourth goal of the season.

Diebold (1-4-1) made 25 saves for the Engineers including 20 in the first two periods. Michalek (4-3-5) was only forced to make 11 stops.

The Engineers return to the ice on Tuesday (7pm), when they host American International at the Houston Field House for a non-league contest. Harvard hosts 14th-ranked Union College at Fenway Park on Friday (7pm).