POTSDAM, N.Y. - Sophomore Carson Cherepak came up with saves when the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's hockey team needed them most on Saturday night, as the Engineers defeated the Clarkson University Golden Knights by a final score of 4-2 at Cheel Arena. With the win, RPI improves to 2-5-0 overall and 2-1-0 in ECAC Hockey, while Clarkson falls to 3-5-0 and 0-1-0 in league play.

Cherepak made 24 saves on the night for the Engineers - with half of those saves coming in the third period. Both Sutter Muzzatti and Jack Brackett added up two points apiece, with each of them putting up a goal and assist on the night.

Muzzatti opened the scoring in the opening period at the 3:10 mark, putting up a short-handed goal on a pass from Brackett to give RPI the 1-0 lead. Muzzatti sat on the doorstep on the back post, securing a tap in goal to give RPI the early advantage.

Clarkson evened things back up early in the second period, as Ryan Richardson scored on the power play to make things 1-1 on an assist from Trey Taylor. From that point, RPI ran off three unanswered goals started by Brackett at the 7:53 mark of the second period. His goal came courtesy of Dovar Tinling and CJ regula as RPI took a 2-1 lead. 

Danny Ciccarello scored to cap a solid second period, with Finn Brown and Brad McNeil earning assists as the Engineers took a 3-1 lead into the third period. Ciccarello found the top right corner of the net on a quick wrist shot from the left side earning his second goal of the season.

Austin Heidemann capped the scoring fo the Engineers in the third period, putting his first goal of the season on a pass from Muzzatti and John Beaton to give RPI a three-goal lead, 4-1. Clarkson scored a late goal in the third thanks to Ellis Rickwood on the power play, but it wasn't enough to overcome the RPI lead.

The Engineers return to action on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. when they take on St. Lawrence in Canton.