TROY, NY – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Men's Hockey team suffered a tough 3-1 loss to the University of Alaska Fairbanks at the Houston Field House Friday night. The game was the first of two matchups between the programs over the weekend.
 
The Nanooks opened the scoring in the first period just over six minutes in, as Brayden Nicholetts tipped in a puck, scoring off a shot from the right side boards from Markuss Komuls to give Alaska Fairbanks the early 1-0 lead.

The Engineers responded four minutes later, with Max Smolinski netting his first goal of the season in similar fashion. Smolinski tipped the puck between the circles on a blue line shot from captain Kyle Hallbauer that found it's way between the legs of Alaska goaltender Matt Radomsky. That left the game tied 1-1 after one period, with Austin Heidemann also getting credit on an assist.
 
Alaska-Fairbanks broke the tie with a goal at the 11:52 mark in the second period, as Kyle Gaffney scored the go-ahead mark for the Nanooks on a one-time slap shot from the right wing hash marks. That score carried into the third period, and would remain until 1:15 remaining in the game. Matt Koethe scored off a one-timer from the left wing hash marks on a back feed from Gaffney to seal the deal for the Nanooks.
 
Jack Watson made 27 saves in net for the Engineers, while Radomsky made 12 for the Nanooks.
 
RPI returns to the ice tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. for the second of two matchup with the University of Alaska Fairbanks.