RPI clinched 2nd place in the ECAC tonight with a 3-2 win over Yale.  I don't
have any details since I wasn't at the game.  However, from what I hear the
Engineers defense, after a bit of a lapse, picked up the slack and propelled
the team to a win.  I'll post details if I get them.
 
Other scores from around the ECAC:
 
St. Lawrence  2   BROWN    5
Clarkson      4   Harvard  4
 
Things in the ECAC continue to be interesting.  Yale has to rely on Brown to
beat Clarkson while they have to beat Union, which I'm sure they'll do.  St.
Lawrence will end up in 6th place, it looks like.  For those Brown fans out
there, Brown has secured 3rd since they would win the tie-breaker over
Clarkson.  The biggest factor right now is the positioning of the 7,8, and 9
teams.  Princeton will most likely finish 10th.  Since I don't have the rest
of the scores for tonight I'll refrain from making any more comments about
who finished where.
 
RPI IN THE PLAYOFFS
 
Despite having a serious case of the mid-season blues, this young and
inexperienced RPI team has proven that they can play with anyone in the ECAC.
I only say they're young and inexperienced because everyone else has put that
label on them all year.  However, I think they've played at a much higher
level than many people have given them credit for.
 
The key to this team has been the goaltending of Neil Little.  He's made some
of the most spectacular saves I've ever seen this year while turning aside
all the routine shots.  Little has rarely had a bad game and has kept the
Engineers close in many games.  As everyone knows, goaltending and defense are
the keys to winning the playoffs.  In fact, good defense and goaltending will
usually do wonders for a team regardless of whether they're in the playoffs or
not.  If you don't believe me, simply look at this year's CHODR ratings.  RPI
has consistently had good defense, usually in the top ten in the nation, which
has helped them be in the top 15 all year.  On the other hand, teams with real
good offenses haven't always been in the top 15 or even the top half.  So
watch out for RPI in the playoffs. If Little continues playing at his current
level and a few of the guys get hot on offense, RPI could take it all.
 
Finally, as the playoffs approach, I want to wish the best of luck to everyones
team.  I hope to see some of you at the Field House next weekend and perhaps
even more of you in Lake Placid!!
 
 
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Daniel Orchard-Hays        Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute             '95
"Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin."
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