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TROY, N.Y. - Sophomore Scott Diebold made 30 saves and three classmates scored a goal apiece to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's hockey team to a 3-1 victory over No. 11 Ferris State University in a non-league game at Houston Field House. The game was the season opener for both schools.

Diebold had seven saves in the first period, 11 in the second and 12 in the third period to backstop the Engineers. Among his saves were several highlight reel stops, including two early in the third period with RPI holding a 2-1 lead. Sophomore CJ Motte (St. Clair, MI) made 19 saves on the other end of the ice.

Ferris State needed just 1:32 to begin the scoring when freshman Dakota Klecha (Taylor, MI) found a loose puck on the left side of the crease and wristed it into the back of the net. Senior Eric Alexander (Kentwood, MI) started the play when he drove the puck down the right side and slid it toward the goal. Cory Kane (Irvine, CA) deflected it to Klecha, who tallied.

RPI tied the game at 8:01 when Mark McGowan (Toronto, ON/Oakville Blades) broke in alone behind the defense and beat Motte with a wristshot. Senior Nick Bailen (Fredonia, NY/Indiana Ice) earned the primary assist with a head-man pass that sprung McGowan, while fellow defenseman Guy Leboeuf (West Palm Beach, FL/Cornwall Colts) had the secondary helper.

Ryan Haggerty (Stamford, CT/U.S. National Developoment Team) put the Engineers ahead at 11:18 of the second period when he scored on a rebound from between the faceoff circles. Matt Neal (Minesing, ON/Stoufville Spirit), another sophomore, deflected a Leboeuf rebound back to Haggerty and the right wing scored the eighth goal of his career.

The Engineers got insurance with just 1:31 left in the third period when Jacob Laliberte (Rockland, ON/Cornwall Colts) deflected a Bailen shot past Motte for a power play goal. Brock Higgs, a junior who got the puck to Bailen, also earned an assist on the play.

RPI finished 1 for 3 on the power play, while the Bulldogs, who played in the national championship game last season, were 0 for 2.

The same two teams meet again on Saturday night at 7pm at the Field House.