TROY, N.Y. – With a crowd of 4,290 in attendance at the Houston Field House for the 46^th Annual Big Red Freakout!, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's hockey team did not disappoint the crowd despite falling via a shootout with the game ending 5-5 after regulation and overtime.
 
It was all Colgate after one period of play, as the Raiders scored three times in the opening period despite an early equalizer at the 6:55 mark from Sutter Muzzatti that made it 1-1. Ross Mitton book ended the period, scoring the opening goal 4:37 in and getting Colgate's third goal at the 18:53 mark to make things 3-1 after the first 20 minutes of play. Daniel Panetta netted the middle goal for Colgate, with all three goals coming on quick passes and shots in close.
 
However, a penalty called on Colgate gave RPI a power play to begin the second period, and they used it to their advantage. Freshman Jimmy Goffredo scored just 1:58 into the second period, as a shot from the high slot found the upper corner of the net to make it a one goal game. Tyler Hotson and CJ Regula assisted on the play, as the Engineers made it a 3-2 game.
 
Hotson was in on the equalizer as well less than a minute later, as another penalty called before Goffredo's goal extended RPI's power play. This time, captain Jake Gagnon was the recipient of the Hotson pass, taking a one timer from the slot that found the net and tied the game up at 3-3.
 
As time wound down in the second period, Colgate reclaimed the lead at the 17:06 mark courtesy of Robby Newton, as the Raiders jumped back to the lead, 4-3.
 
As the clock ticked under a minute to play in the second period, senior Jack Brackett used his speed up the wing to draw another penalty, giving the Engineers a third man-up opportunity in the frame.
 
Immediately off the faceoff won backwards by Dovar Tinling, sophomore Max Smolinski skated uncontested toward the middle of the ice, and unleashed a shot that scooted by Colgate goaltender Carter Gylander to once again tie the game. Things remained 4-4 going into the third period.
 
With the Engineers a perfect 3-for-3 on the power play for the night, Colgate responded with a man-up goal of their own to once again jump ahead, 5-4 in the third period. At the 7:16 mark, Ethan Manderville took a puck from Labelle, and finished at the net to push the Raiders ahead once again.
 
Colgate maintained the lead with under three minutes to play, as RPI looked to pull their goalie. With a stoppage at 2:32 remaining in regulation, they did just that – leaving the net empty. As it looked Colgate was going to get a chance to ice the game with a goal in a 3-on-1 rush up the ice, Goffredo deflected the pass across the ice on his rush back, with the puck bouncing backwards through the neutral zone back toward the RPI offensive end.
 
Hotson picked up the puck, as it immediately gave the Engineers a 2-on-1 situation back the other direction. With John Beaton cutting toward the net, the defender decided to join him, leaving Hotson a chance to walk in toward the net. He did just that, making a backhand move and scoring with 2:10 remaining on the clock to erupt the near-capacity crowd at the Houston Field House to bring the Engineers back for a third time, tying the game at 5-5.
 
Without a score throughout the final minutes of regulation and overtime, the game went to a shootout. With the game already statistically a 5-5 draw, Hotson started the duel strong with another goal while Colgate was stopped by Watson in the first round. However, despite the early 1-0 advantage, Colgate converted on their next two attempts while RPI could not convert as the Raiders walked away with the victory.
 
RPI outshot the Raiders 51-37 in shots on goal, as Gylander finished with 43 saves for Colgate. Jack Watson ended with 29 saves, as Hotson and Smolinski each finished the night with three points apiece.
 
The Engineers return to action on Friday, Feb. 16 when they head to Princeton. Puck drop in the matchup with the Tigers is scheduled for 7 p.m.