TROY, N.Y. – Sophomore Casey Dornbach netted his first career hat trick to lead the No. 10 Harvard University men's hockey team to a 6-3 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), on Friday night at the Houston Field House. With the win, the Crimson improve to 6-0 overall (6-0 ECAC Hockey), while the Engineer drop to 4-6-1 (2-4-1 ECAC Hockey).

Dornbach (Edina, MN/Lincoln Stars) netted a goal in each period to complete the hat trick, including a first period penalty shot, after junior Henry Bowlby (Edina, MN/Lincoln Stars) opened the scoring just 54 seconds in. Dornbach drew the penalty shot when he jumped on a pass in behind the RPI defense and was hooked. He skated in from the left side and beat RPI sophomore goaltender Owen Savory (Cambridge, ON/St. Catharines Falcons), glove side to make it 2-0 at 2:26 of the opening stanza.

RPI answered two and a half minutes later, when freshman Cory Babichuk (Edmonton, AB/Spruce Grove Saints) netted his first collegiate goal from the high slot. Senior Mike Gornall (Irwin, PA/Topeka Roadrunners) drove into the zone on the left side, before sending a rink wide pass to sophomore Brady Ferner (Dakota Dunes, SD/Sioux City Musketeers). Babichuk then stepped into a feed from Ferner and ripped a shot home off the crossbar.

Senior Chase Zieky (Avon, CT/Salmon Arm Silverbacks) brought the hosts even (2-2) at 10:12 of the first after classmate Jake Marrello (Slingerlands, NY/PAL Junior Islanders) stole the puck behind the Harvard net. Zieky found some room the left of the cage and Marrello found him for the one-time finish – netting his team-leading fifth goal of the year.

Harvard retook the lead (3-2) with under two minutes to play in the first, as sophomore Baker Shore (Englewood, CO/Chicago Steel) stuck home a rebound on his backhand from just left of the crease. His first of the year drew helpers from senior Colton Kerfoot (West Vancouver, BC/Coqiutlam) and freshman John Farinacci (Chatham, NJ/Dexter School).

Six minutes into the third, the Engineers tied the game once again, as senior Todd Burgess (Phoenix, AZ/Fairbanks Ice Dogs) finished off a sharp passing play on the rush. Sophomore Ture Linden (Great Falls, VA/Long Star Brahmas) found senior captain Will Reilly (Toronto, ON/Nanaimo Clippers) just across the blue line on the right side, who sent a one-time pass to Burgess on the doorstep. After his first chance was denied, Burgess was able to flip in a second effort for his third of the season.

Dornbach gave the visitors back the lead at 4-3 with under four minutes to play in the second. On the power play, junior Jack Drury (Scituate, MA/South Shore) sent a pass to junior Reilly Walsh (Andover, NH/Proctor Academy) in the low slot. Walsh sent a feed the left side of the net for Dornbach, who rifled home his second of the night.

Just 3:05 into the third, Dornbach completed the hat trick and gave Harvard a 5-3 advantage. Freshman Abruzzese (Slate Hill, NY/Chicago Steel) found Dornbach with a short pass after the Crimson forced an offensive zone turnover.

Senior Frederic Gregoire (St. Lambert, PQ/St. George's) capped the scoring with a breakaway tally at 7:17 of the final frame. The unassisted marker was his first of the season.

RPI outshot the Crimson, 40-25, on the night, with the face-off totals even at 35-apiece. Senior goaltender Cameron Gornet (St. Louis, MO/Sioux City) earned the victory in relief of Mitchell Gibson (Phoenixville, PA/Centra Illinois Flying Aces), who was forced to leave the game with an injury in the second period. Gornet made 22 saves on 23 shots over the final 38:08 to improve to 3-0-0. Savory (3-5-1) had 19 stops at the other end of the ice.

Harvard finished 1 for 3 on the power play, while the Engineers went 0 for 3, including a brief 5-on-3 chance in the second period.

Rensselaer returns to action tomorrow night, when they travel to Canisius College (7:35pm). The Crimson host Boston College on Friday (7pm).