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TROY, N.Y. - Sophomore
Jacob Laliberte scored both goals for the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's hockey team and the Engineers skated to a 2-2 tie with Ferris State University in a non-league men's hockey game at Houston Field House. It was the second of two games between the two schools to open the season, with RPI taking the opener, 3-1.
Laliberte's (Rockland, ON/Cornwall Colts) second goal of the game - and third of the season - turned out to be the game-tying marker and it came just 24 seconds after Ferris State took the lead. The centerman took a pass from
Matt Neal (Minesing, ON/Stoufville Spirit) in the slot and slapped the puck into the net at 10:23 of the third period.
Brandon Anselmini (Guelph, ON) had given the Bulldogs the lead when he scored his first collegiate goal on a shot through traffice from the top of the right faceoff circle. Simon Denis (Burnaby, BC) and Kyle Bonis (Lindsay, ON) had the assists.
Both teams had a number of chances to score in the first period, but both goaltenders made strong saves. Ferris netminder CJ Motte (St. Clair, MI) was especially sharp on a two-shot sequence midway through the period when he stopped
Ryan Haggerty (Stamford, CT/U.S. National Development Team), who stole the puck and broke down the right side, putting a shot on goal. The rebound went to Neal, who had a solid bid denied by Motte.
The Engineers broke through with just 29 seconds left in the first period when they tallied on the power play. Neal's shot from the blueline went wide and Haggerty's rebound attempt from just outside the crease slipped behind Motte and into the crease. Laliberte crashed the net and slid the puck into the goal for his first of the night.
Ferris State tied the game just 39 seconds into the second period when Bonis, a senior, took control of the puck and fed it right in front of the net, where Garrett Thompson (Traverse City, MI) was able to knock it in. RPI netminder
Bryce Merriam (Bethel Park, PA/Topeka RoadRunners) kept it an even score when he came out and made a sprawling glove save on Travis Ouellette (Windsor, ON), who was alone in the bottom of the left faceoff circle.
Merriam finished with 22 saves, including 10 in the second period. Motte, who took the loss on Friday, had 21 saves, including five in overtime.
RPI is back on the ice next weekend at Minnesota State, while Ferris hosts Mercyhurst College in a pair of games next Friday and Saturday.