Box ScoreCAMBRIDGE, Mass. - No. 4 Harvard University scored three times in the first four minutes of the second period, including two goals in a nine second span, and the Crimson went on to defeat the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's hockey team, 6-2, in an ECAC Hockey contest.
The Engineers held a 2-1 lead after the first period, in which they held a 13-4 advantage in shots. After Harvard scored just 1:21 into the contest, freshman
Drew Melanson notched his second of the season at the 4:46 mark. It was Melanson's first game since November 29 due to illness. Senior
Matt Neal set up the goal, which moved Melanson into a tie for first on the team in points with nine. Sophomore
Riley Bourbonnais also has nine points (4 goals, 5 assists).
Senior
Zach Schroeder gave RPI a 2-1 lead at 13:19 when he picked up a loose puck and scored for the second time this season. It was an unassisted goal.
The Crimson, who own the longest current winning streak in Division 1 (7 games), came out of the first intermission and took command with its three-goal barrage. Junior Jimmy Vesey scored his 10th goal of the season only 21 seconds into the period. Phil Zielonka tallied the eventual game-winner 3:44 later and Tyler Moy scored his sixth of the season off the ensuing faceoff.
Moy added a power play goal at 4:08 of the third period for a 5-2 lead and Seb Lloyd scored six minutes later for the final margin.
Steve Michalek finished with 33 saves for the win for second place Harvard, which is now 10-1-2 overall and 6-1-2 in ECAC Hockey.
Rensselaer, which suffered its sixth straight loss, fell to 6-13-1 and 4-5-0 in ECAC Hockey. Junior
Jason Kasdorf, who saw his first action since November 25 due to injury, finished with 23 stops. He had three in the first period and 10 in each of the last two.
The Engineers are back in action this weekend when they host No. 6 Miami for a pair of non-league contests. Friday and Saturday's games both begin at 7pm at the Houston Field House. Saturday's game is Autism Awareness Night.
