TROY, N.Y.- The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's ice hockey team tied Niagara 3-3 in its home-opener tonight in Houston Field House.

Jake Gagnon, Jack Brackett, and Will Gilson each netted goals for the Engineers on the night.

Gagnon gave RPI the early lead, as he lit the light a mere 19 seconds into the first period to give the Engineers the early advantage.

After the Purple Eagles leveled at 1-1 in the middle of the second, Brackett put RPI back ahead with the help of a Jagger Tapper assist with three minutes left in the frame.

Starting the third period on a five-minute power play, Niagara scored twice in the first seven minutes of the stanza to take its first lead of the night.

Facing a 3-2 deficit, the Engineers received a game-tying strike by Gilson in the middle of the third to force an overtime session. Gilson snuck a low shot home from alongside the boards, with Nathan Sullivan and Felix Caron providing assists on the sequence.

Overtime saw the Engineers generate three chances on goal compared to Niagara's one, however neither team found the back of the net in the extra session.

The Purple Eagles would win the shootout by a 2-0 margin.

Jack Watson made 39 saves in net for the Engineers.

The two squads will close out the weekend series tomorrow at 5:00 pm in Houston Field House.