TROY, N.Y. –
Jagger Tapper scored the go-ahead power-play goal in the second period and
Nate Krawchuk turned aside 30 shots as the RPI men's hockey team earned a 2-1 victory over LIU tonight at Houston Field House.
RPI wasted little time getting on the board, taking the lead just 1:29 into the contest.
Rainers Rullers finished a setup from
Caleb Hadland and
Grayson Burzynski for his third goal of the season, giving the Engineers an early 1-0 advantage. LIU answered later in the opening period when Zachary Benayon scored unassisted to send the teams into the first intermission tied at 1-1.
The Engineers' penalty kill helped keep the game even through a busy opening period, successfully turning aside three LIU power-play opportunities. Krawchuk made 10 saves in the frame as RPI held the Sharks to a single goal despite 11 shots on net.
RPI generated sustained pressure throughout the second period and eventually regained the lead on its third power-play opportunity of the frame. Tapper found the back of the net off assists from Benjamin Yurchuk and
Kazimier Sobieski to put the Engineers ahead 2-1. The goal was Tapper's first of the season and stood as the eventual game-winner.
The Engineers continued to protect the one-goal advantage through the remainder of the period, including another successful penalty kill, before Krawchuk and the RPI defense were tested heavily in the third. LIU put 18 shots on goal over the final 20 minutes and received two more power-play chances, but Krawchuk stopped every attempt to preserve the lead.
LIU pulled its goaltender for an extra attacker with under two minutes remaining and generated several late chances, but Krawchuk made five saves during the closing stretch to secure the victory.
Krawchuk finished with 30 saves while allowing just one goal, including 18 stops in the third period. Rullers and Sobieski led the Engineers with six shots on goal apiece, while RPI finished the night with 31 shots and went a perfect six-for-six on the penalty kill.
