MANKATO, Minn. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's hockey team turned in a determined defensive effort on Saturday night, but a pair of power-play goals allowed No. 20 Minnesota State, Mankato to edged the Engineers, 2–1, at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center tonight. 

Filip Sitar provided RPI's lone goal with 13 seconds remaining in the first period, marking his team-leading third tally of the young season. Sitar intercepted a clearing attempt at the blue line and ripped a low shot through traffic to beat Maverick goaltender Alex Tracy for his second goal in as many nights.

The hosts pulled even midway through the second period when a high-sticking penalty set up a Maverick power play. Despite several stops from Bruno Bruveris, who finished with 16 saves on 18 shots, Minnesota State converted on a net-front deflection at 12:42 to make it 1–1. The Engineers countered with several quality looks from Tyler Wallace, Matthew Buckley, and Jackson Kyrkostas, but Tracy turned aside all 12 RPI shots in the frame.

Another man-advantage opportunity for the Mavericks proved costly early in the third, as Minnesota State netted the go-ahead goal just 32 ticks into the final stanza. RPI pressed hard the rest of the way, outshooting the Mavericks 13–5 in the period, and generated multiple chances on three separate power plays, including a pair of looks from Cole Gordon and Luciano Wilson.

The Engineers will head back east to begin preparations for next weekend's home-and-home series with ECAC rival Union.