PROVIDENCE, R.I. – In what was a near-shutout for goaltender Jack Watson on Friday evening, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's hockey team defeated the Brown Bears by a final score of 3-1 from Meehan Auditorium.
 
Watson made 38 saves on the game, allowing his lone goal to Brown with less than 15 seconds to go in regulation on the power play for the Bears.
 
After a scoreless first period, the first goal of the game didn't come until late in the second as Jakob Lee connected on a tip-in on a puck headed toward the net from Max Smolinki at the 16:02 mark. That goal gave RPi the leg up heading into the third period of play.
 
Watson held strong, with a combination of saves to keep the Bears at bay near the beginning of the third period. He finally got relief when Austin Heidemann scored off a rebounded shot from Jack Brackett to give the Engineers some wiggle room at 2-0.
 
With time ticking down, Brown pulled their goalie late in the third period. Freshman Brad McNeil took advantage, scoring an empty net goal at the 18:42 mark. McNeil scored unassisted, connecting on the tally from his defensive zone and tossing the puck the length of the ice.
 
RPI returns to action tomorrow on Saturday, Feb. 3 when they head to New Haven to take on Yale at 7 p.m.