TROY, N.Y. – The RPI men's hockey team received goals from
Filip Sitar and
Kazimier Sobieski and carried a one-goal lead into the third period, but Ohio State scored twice in the final frame to earn a 3-2 victory over the Engineers tonight at Houston Field House.
Ohio State struck first less than two minutes into the contest when Jake Karabela finished a setup from William Smith and Benjamin Wilmott.
Nate Krawchuk kept the Engineers within one throughout the remainder of the period, turning aside 16 shots as RPI entered the first intermission trailing 1-0.
RPI pulled even early in the second after earning a power-play opportunity. Sitar found the back of the net off assists from Benjamin Yurchuk and
Rainers Rullers for his second goal of the season, tying the game at 1-1.
The Engineers moved in front midway through the period when Sobieski finished a setup from
Caleb Hadland and
Jagger Tapper for his first goal of the season. RPI then killed off an Ohio State power play later in the frame, while Krawchuk stopped all six shots he faced in the period to send the Engineers into the second intermission with a 2-1 advantage.
Ohio State tied the game early in the third when Sam Deckhut scored off assists from Chris Able and Nathan Lewis. The Engineers had a power-play opportunity shortly afterward, but the Buckeyes kept the game even before Max Montes scored at 11:30 to give Ohio State a 3-2 lead.
RPI received a five-minute power play moments after falling behind and continued to press for the equalizer, but Ohio State held the Engineers off the board. RPI later pulled Krawchuk for an extra attacker and generated late opportunities from Sobieski before the Buckeyes closed out the one-goal decision.
Krawchuk finished with 30 saves, including 16 in the opening period. Sobieski led the Engineers with four shots on goal, while Sitar scored for the second consecutive game and Rullers recorded his third point of the weekend.
