TROY, N.Y. ­­– Junior Drew Melanson scored a pair of goals to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's hockey team to a 3-1 win over Brown University, on Friday night at the Houston Field House. With the win, the Engineers improve to 2-5-1 (1-2-0 ECAC Hockey), while the Bears drop to 0-3-0 (0-1-0 ECAC Hockey).

Following a scoreless first period, Melanson (Paramus, NJ/Waterloo Black Hawks) broke the deadlock with a breakaway tally at 14:17 of the period. Classmate Lou Nanne (Edina, MN/Sioux Falls Stampede) blocked point shot that fell to sophomore Evan Tironese (Qualicum Beach, BC/Alverni Valley Bulldogs) in the left circle. Tironese then found Melanson flying out of the zone for the breakaway finish.

RPI made it 2-0 just 19 seconds into the third period. Senior captain Jimmy DeVito (Bloomingdale, IL/Lincoln Stars) worked the puck to the top of the left circle for junior Jared Wilson (Calgary, AB/Vernon Vipers), who ripped a shot past Brown freshman goaltender Gavin Nieto (Yorba Linda, CA/Fairbanks Ice Dogs) for his team-leading fifth goal of the season.

The Bears pulled Nieto for an extra attacker with just under three minutes to play and it paid off, as freshman Brent Beaudoin (Londonderry, NH/Islander H.C.) was able to stick home a rebound at the side of the crease with 1:27 left. The 6-on-5 tally saw junior Sam Lafferty (Hollidaysburg, PA) and Charlie Corcoran (New Canaan, CT) pick up the assists.

Melanson put the game away with an empty-netter at 19:26 of the period. Taking a center-ice feed from Tironese, he tossed the puck into the open goal for a 3-1 advantage.

RPI sophomore goaltender Chase Perry (Andover, MN/Wenatchee Wild) made 27 saves, including all 12 shots he faced in the first period. Neito had 28 stops, with 13 coming in the second stanza. RPI finished 0 for 7 on the power play, while the Bears were 0 for 3.

Rensselaer won the face-off battle, 35-29. Nanne was a game-best +2 with two assists, while Tironese had two helpers and a pair of shots. Wilson had a team-high four blocks to go along with his goal.

Prior to the game, the Engineers were proud to honor 20 children from the Capital Region who received recognition for their academic achievement, through the "Rising Stars Award" program, which is supported by the National Grid Foundation. The Rising Stars were local elementary school students who receive a trophy to recognize their academic achievements. The top student in each grade from participating schools was selected by their teacher to receive this honor.

On hand to present the trophies were Bob Keller, President of the National Grid foundation, and Dr. Lee McElroy, Rensselaer's Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics.

The Engineers are back in action tomorrow night, when they host 16th-ranked Yale University (7pm). Brown travel to Schenectady to face 20th-ranked Union College (7pm).