MANKATO, Minn. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's hockey team fell 4–2 to No. 20 Minnesota State at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center. Rainers Rullers and Filip Sitar each scored for the Engineers, while goaltender Nate Krawchuk posted a season-high 36 saves in the setback for the Engineers.

Minnesota State opened the scoring midway through the first period, but RPI weathered sustained pressure thanks to Krawchuk's steady play and timely shot blocking from Thomas Klassek and Ethan Bono, with the latter getting in front of team-high five shots. The Engineers generated multiple early chances, including looks from Tyler Wallace and Matthew Buckley, but trailed 1–0 after twenty minutes.

The Mavericks doubled their lead on a power play early in the second, yet RPI responded moments later when Rullers his first tally of the season at 9:41 with help from Dovar Tinling and Jagger Tapper. The goal marked Rullers' first of the season and gave RPI life heading into the second half of the frame. Minnesota State answered with another man-advantage goal late in the period to regain a two-goal cushion.

RPI continued to push offensively in the third, with strong shifts from Luciano Wilson and Gustavs Ozolins keeping the pressure on. Midway through the frame, the Engineers were rewarded when Sitar connected on a feed from Buckley and Ozolins to make it 4–2 at 12:01. The goal was Sitar's second of the season and capped a productive night for the top line, which combined for three points. Krawchuk's 36-save effort was the best by an RPI goaltender this season and included 18 stops in the opening period alone.

RPI and Minnesota State finish the two-game series tomorrow at 6:00 pm CT / 7:00 pm ET.