official release from RPI's SID

MEN'S HOCKEY BEATS MERCYHURST
Engineers improve to 6-7-0 with non-league victory

Junior Ben Barr had a goal and two assists to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) hockey team to a 5-2 win over Mercyhurst in a Division I hockey game at the Houston Field House in Troy, N.Y.  With the win, the Engineers improve to 6-7-0 while the Lakers are 4-6-1.

Mercyhurst broke out on top when junior Adam Tackaberry scored from the right side of the crease, finishing off a nice pass from Rich Hansen.  Sophomore David Wrigley also earned an assist on the goal, which came on an odd-man rush at the 7:24 mark of the first period.  RPI tied the game just over three minutes later when Scott Romfo, a freshman defenseman, scored on a slapshot high to the goalie's glove side.  Nolan Graham and Blake Pickett earned the assists on Romfo's second goal of the season.

Junior Mikael Hammarstrom gave the home team a 2-1 lead at the 15:04 mark when he tallied on a rebound of a Brad Farynuk shot.  Mercyhurst came back two minutes later to tie the score, 2-2, a power play goal off a rebound of a Wrigley shot from the left point.  Hansen also picked up an assist on the goal.  Junior Ben Barr, who assisted on the Engineers' second goal, put Rensselaer ahead, 3-2, when he knocked in a loose puck from just outside the crease with only 49 seconds remaining in the period.  Farynuk and Vic Pereira set up Barr's goal, his third of the season.

Barr tallied his second of the night and fourth of the season with a shorthanded goal midway through the second period.  Barr stole the puck at center ice and broke in alone on the netminder, Matt Cifelli, and scored into the top of the net.

The Engineers saw their lead increase to three goals at 2:59 of the third period when sophomore forward Nick Economakos ripped a wrist shot into the back of the net.  Pickett earned his second helper of the night and Eric Cavosie was also credited with an assist on the goal.  Wrigley, a native of Washago, Ont., picked up his third point of the night when he scored a
power play goal from the right point.  Tackaberry and Hansen set up Wrigley's goal, his fifth of the season.

Junior Nathan Marsters finished with 20 saves for the win while Cifelli stopped 30 shots.

Rensselaer returns to action next Friday night when they will travel to Providence, R.I., to battle Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) foe Brown at 7pm.  They will then play league foe Harvard next Saturday night at 7pm.  The Lakers will travel to Colorado next weekend for games at Denver and Colorado College next Friday and Saturday nights.