RPI BLANKS ROBERT MORRIS, 2-0, TO ADVANCE
Alford stops 17 shots in 54th Annual RPI/Bank of America Tournament

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) got two power play goals and held
Robert Morris to 17 shots in defeating the Colonials, 2-0, in the 54th
Annual Rensselaer/Bank of America Holiday Tournament at the Houston Field
House in Troy, N.Y.  Freshman Jordan Alford earned his first shutout of his
career by making three saves in the first period and seven in both the
second and third periods.

With the victory, which came in the second game of the oldest college
hockey holiday tournament in the nation, Rensselaer improves to 7-6-1 and
advances to the championship game against Air Force (7pm), which defeated
Sacred Heart, 3-2 in overtime (7pm).  The Colonials fall to 2-9-1 and will
play in Saturday's consolation game against Sacred Heart (4pm).

RPI's Brad Farynuk put the home team on the board first, scoring a power
play goal off the right post from the center of the blueline.  A junior
defenseman, Farynuk earned his second on the season at the 14:30 mark with
assists from Alexander Valentin and Kevin Croxton.

Sophomore Kevin Broad doubled the Engineers' lead when he scored just under
the crossbar at 16:11 of the second period.  Broad collected a rebound of a
Keith MCWilliams shot and lifted it over Robert Morris netminder Jamie
Flury for his fourth goal of the year.  Nick Economakos also helped set up
the goal, which came with RPI on a power play.

Jamie Flury finished with 23 saves in the loss, including five in the first
period, 12 in the second period and six in the third period.