TROY, N.Y. ­­– Sophomore Evan Tironese had a goal and an assist to help the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's hockey team to a 3-3 tie with Niagara University, on Friday night at the Houston Field House. With the draw, the Engineers are now 0-3-1, while the Purple Eagles are 0-2-2.

After a scoreless first period, in which the Engineers held an 11-9 shots advantage, it was Niagara which got on the board first in the second. Junior captain Derian Plouffe (Shawville, PQ/Smiths Falls Bears) beat RPI freshman netminder Chase Perry (Andover, MN/Wenatchee Wild) with a shot from the right circle for a power play goal at 11:05.

Rensselaer answered 38 seconds later, as Tironese (Qualicum Beach, BC/Alberni Valley Bulldogs) spun and fired home his second of the year from below the hash marks. Assists went to senior captain Riley Bourbonnais (Rochester, NY/Lincoln Stars) and freshman Will Reilly (Toronto, ON/Naniamo Clippers).

Niagara quickly regained the lead at 12:40 of the frame, when sophomore Johnny Curran (Niagara Falls, ON/Smiths Falls Bears) snapped home the first of his two goals on the night. Plouffe and freshman defenseman Tyler Hayes (Brighton, MI/Topeka RoadRunners) earned the helpers on the Purple Eagles' second man advantage goal of the game.

Junior Lou Nanne (Edina, MN/Sioux Falls Stampede) brought the hosts even 1:44 into the third period, redirecting a point shot by sophomore blueliner Tommy Grant (Sparta, NJ/Bay State Breakers) for his first of the campaign. A secondary assist was credited to junior Bradley Bell (Sudbury, ON/Sudbury Nickel Barons).

RPI took a 3-2 lead at 14:40 of the third on a power play goal from junior Jared Wilson (Calgary, AB/Vernon Vipers). His one-time blast from the high slot found the back of the net, with assists to Tironese and junior Drew Melanson (Paramus, NJ/Waterloo Black Hawks).

The Purple Eagles then capitalized on an RPI defensive zone giveaway to knot the score at 3-3 with under four minutes to play. Curran corralled a loose puck in the left circle and beat Perry high blocker side for an unassisted tally.

Perry finished with 30 saves, including 13 in the third period alone. Senior Jackson Teichroeb (London, ON/Lincoln Stars) had 38 stops at the other end of the ice, with 14 coming in the third.

RPI wound up 1 for 9 on the power play, while Niagara was 2 for 9.

The Engineers return to the ice tomorrow night, when they host RIT (7pm). The Purple Eagles travel to Union tomorrow (4pm).