In a somewhat lackluster game, RPI managed to wake up and play a tough third
period, resulting in a 6-3 victory over Yale.  For the second game in a row
the Houston Fieldhouse seemed rather quiet, although this is possibly sequelae
of RPI's early season foibles against the (presumably) weaker teams it lost to
at home.  Anyway...
 
RPI started out the game hustling, generally dominating play for the first 5
minutes.  At the 6:10 mark Brad Layzell threw a long pass from center ice up
the left side, with the Engineers barely achieving an on-sides play as Jeff
O'Connor skated alongside the puck.  The puck then bounced off the boards
directly on to O'Connor's stick, and O'Connor, who seemed to have barely
noticed the puck was coming, slapped home the initial goal.  Yale's Sullivan
had come out from the crease to cut the angle, and seems to have simply
misjudged the puck.
 
At the 12:18 mark Yale managed to tie up the game with a tainted goal.
Taking a pass from a clearly offsides Yale player (Brierley?) John Emmons
scooted the puck past a befuddled Neil Little.  The apparent linesman's mistake
seemed to have deflated RPI's balloon, with their play learly suffering.  Yale
also picked up their play constantly forechecking the RPI forwards in their
own end.  At 18:01 Brian Richardson took a slashing penalty resulting in a Yale
power play.  With the power play winding down Yale's Cippola scored on a short
shot after a pass from behind the net.  The goal was a virtual gift as bothRPI
defensemen (Cuthbert & co.) simply watched Michael Yoshino choose his target
from behind the net.  He flicked the puck past a paralyzedPatrick Rochon to
Cippola, who wristed the puck past a desperate Neil Littleat 19:45.
 
The second period commenced with a seeming repeat of earlier ugly RPI home
games.  At 5:15 Carpenter scored unassisted to up the Yale margin to 3-1.
Actually an assist should have been awarded to RPI's Kiley, who coughed up the
puck directly in front of the net.  I believe that goal was Kiley's last
appearance on ice that night.
 
At 6:44 Mike Cullinan was called for roughing, giving RPI a power play.  Kelly
Askew responded by making a great play at center ice to spring Regan on a
partial breakaway.  Regan scored at 7:51 (Askew, Richardson.)  At 13:09
Craig Hamelin tied up the game off assists from Rochon and Pirrong.  WithRPI
starting to cruise, Yale's Martin Leroux was called for a 5 minute major for
crushing Regan in the corner.  The Engineers however couldn't capitalize on
the opportunity.  In fact the five minutes seemed to have consisted of the
RPI forwards trying to figure out how to carry the puck out of their own end.
The second period ended in a 3-3 tie.
 
The third period opened with both teams skating evenly, until Brian Richardson
decided to take the game into his own hands with a dazzling skating exhibition.
Taking the puck from RPI's right face-off circle, Richardson skated up center
ice, across the blue line and around a faked-out defensemen who grabbed
Richardson from behind.  Falling to his stomach, Richardson managed to get wood
on the puck, and beat Sullivan for the eventual winning goal.  As he did the
week before, Richardson managed to score in a completly unexpected manner,
this time employing the ring-long rush.
 
RPI's Brad Layzell,  repeated his stellar performance from theprevious game
scoring the clincher at 18:34. (Brick, Richardon.)  Layzell tookthe rebound
of Jeff Brick's close-in attempt and slapped it past a screened Sullivan. With
either Layzell or Adam Bartel on-ice for the entire third period, RPI managed
to control play, and put consistent pressure on the Yale defense.  An empty
netter (Gabriel) closed out the scoring at 18:51.
 
The Engineers emerge from the game cautiously optimistic, with a re-awakened
ability to dominate the third period.  Although remaining a point behind
Colgate for the third spot in the standings, the Engineers would seem be
poised to grab a position this week against Vermont and Dartmouth.  The
Engineers will probably again look to the Richardson/Brick/Regan line, and
the blue line play of Brad Layzell to spur them on.
                    _
            "NYS   // Hockey"
        Go 'Gate  //   Brian Morris
          Go RPI //      Albany, NY
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