TROY, N.Y. – Sophomore Odeen Tufto scored late in the third period to lift the sixth-ranked Quinnipiac University men's hockey team to a 2-1 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), on Saturday night at the Houston Field House. With the win, the Bobcats improve to 22-6-2 overall (11-5-2 ECAC Hockey), while the Engineers drop to 9-18-3 (6-10-2 ECAC Hockey).

Tufto (Chaska, MN/Sioux City Musketeers) broke a 1-1 tie with just 34 seconds left in regulation, taking a feed from behind the net by freshman Ethan de Jong (North Vancouver, BC/Prince George Spruce Kings) and burying his 14th goal of the season past RPI freshman netminder Owen Savory (Cambridge, ON/St. Catharines Falcons). Junior blueliner Brogan Rafferty (Dundee, IL/Bloomington Thunder) picked up the secondary assist on the power play tally.

RPI netted the game's first goal, just 1:32 into the contest, when freshman Brady Ferner (Dakota Dunes, SD/Sioux City Musketeers) rifled a shot home from the left point, after receiving a cross-ice pass from classmate Kyle Hallbauer (Howell, NJ/Lone Star Brahmas). Senior Brady Wiffen (St. Mary's, ON/Trenton Golden Hawks) also earned a helper on the play.

Wiffen nearly made it 2-0 four minutes into the second, but his power play effort was denied by a sprawling Shortridge, who made a left pad stop.

Quinnipiac pulled even at 11:51 of the frame on a deflected puck into front of the RPI goal. Freshman Daniel Winslow (Fairfield, CT/Jersey Hitmen) was credited with his fourth tally of the year, after the puck hit his shin pad and caromed into the net.

A tightly contested third period saw Bobcats generate an 18-5 shot advantage, thanks to four power play chances. Tufto was eventually able to capitalize on the third chance, sticking home the eventual game-winner from four feet out.

Shortridge (14-3-2) finished with 17 saves, while Savory (4-10-3) had 35 at the other end of the ice. The loss halts Rensselaer's season-long unbeaten streak at five games.

The Engineers return to the ice next weekend, when they visit eighth-ranked Cornell University and Colgate University on Friday (7pm) and Saturday (7pm), respectively. Quinnipiac hosts St. Lawrence University and 11th-ranked Clarkson University.