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TROY, N.Y. – Junior Matt Neal recorded a goal and two assists as the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's hockey team defeated Princeton University, 5-2, this afternoon in ECAC Hockey action from the Houston Field House. With the win, the Engineers improve to 8-5-3 overall (3-3-3 ECAC Hockey), while the Tigers drop to 3-12 (2-8 ECAC Hockey).

For the second straight game, the Engineers got out to an early 2-0 lead, scoring twice within a 23-second span. Sophomore Chris Bradley ripped a shot from the high slot that found its way through traffic and past Princeton freshman goaltender Colton Phinney (Chatham, NJ) for his second of the season at 3:03. Assists went to junior Zach Schroeder (Prior Lake, MN/Saint Thomas Academy) and Travis Fulton (Oakville, ON/Vaughan Vipers).

Senior Brock Higgs (Kingston, ON/Kingston Voyageurs) quickly doubled the lead at 3:26 of the frame. Helpers went to Bradley and Neal (Minesing, ON/Stoufville Spirit).

Princeton pulled to within 2-1 at 14:08 of the period on senior Alec Rush's (Eden Prairie, MN) second tally of the season. The Engineers regained their two-goal advantage (3-1), less than two minutes later, when junior Ryan Haggerty (Stamford, CT/U.S. National Development Team) netted a power-play goal from Neal and Jacob Laliberte (Rockland, ON/Cornwall Colts).

Neal picked up his sixth goal of the season at 3:43 of the second period, extending the RPI advantage to 4-1. He tapped home a loose puck in the crease, after a shot by Laliberte was stopped, but held onto by Princeton senior goalie Sean Bonar (Delta, BC).

A shorthanded breakaway tally by Jonathan Liau (Burbank, CA) made it a 4-2 at 5:12 of the second, but Higgs had an answer for the Engineers, scoring a highlight reel goal – his second of the contest – at 12:42 of the stanza.

RPI junior netminder Scott Diebold (Buffalo, NY/Tri-City Storm) made 19 saves to improve to 7-4-3. Phinney took the loss, making six saves, while Bonar stopped 17.

The Engineers are back on the ice next weekend, when they host Denver University for a two-game series at the Houston Field House. Puck drop for both Friday and Saturday nights is set for 7pm.