In one of the most exciting and evenly matched games in Houston Field
House's recent history, RPI pulled out a 7-5 win on Saturday night
against the "other" Red of Cornell, ending RPI's 3 game losing streak
and ending Cornell's "weekend of hell".
Both teams were coming off disappointing losses on Friday,
RPI losing to Colgate and Cornell to Union. Both teams needed
this win and it became apparent right from the start that both teams
wanted a win badly.
RPI fan that I am, this is one of the few games where I can honestly
say that it was a shame that someone had to lose. Both teams came
out psyched and focused and flying and remained so for the entire
game. The air was filled with electricity in the Field House, supercharged
by the player's enthusiasm and it never let up for a minute throughout
the entire game. The enthusiasm was so contagious that even the 3716
fans looked emotionally drained as they left after the game. I've been
to NCAA championship games where the intensity was less than this one.
The score was really 6-5 with an empty netter and it could very easily
have been 6-5 in the other direction; that is how closely these teams
matched up. Speed for speed, check for check, shot for shot, this was
a game that will long live in my memory.
Secondly, it's always nice to have your predictions bear out. In my last post
yesterday afternoon, I suggested that freshman Brad Tapper's line was going
to be a key part of RPI's future and that Brad himself is a future leader
of this team. Brad Tapper's hat trick last night and the all-around play
of his line bodes well for the Engineers' future.
RPI took a 1-0 lead at 7:54 of the first period after Jason Elliott stopped
shots by Brian Tapper and Doug Battaglia but left a rebound in the crease
where Brad Tapper just had to flip it into an empty net. This was a power
play goal. Just a few minutes later, at 9:15, the other Red tied the score
at 1-1 on a power play as Doug Stienstra fed Ryan Moynihan, who split the
RPI defensemen and beat Scott Prekaski over the shoulder. The 1st period
scoring closed out at 18:40 as Alaine St. Hillaire got a pass over to Eric
Healey on the blue line who broke in all alone and deked out Elliott and
back-handed the puck into the upper part of the net for an RPI 2-1 lead.
This was also a power play goal.
Saves in the period: Elliott(Cornell) 11 - Prekaski(RPI) 6
RPI appeared to take control in the second period when RPI went up 3-1
at 7:27. Matt Garver found Eric Healey in deep with a pass. Healey
drew all the attention his way and found Alaine St. Hillaire all alone
at Elliott's left and hit him with a nice pass that St. Hillaire tapped
in for a 3-1 lead. At 9:32, 10 seconds after Jeff Oates went off for
hitting the goaltender, RPI went up 4-1 when Brad tapper netted his 2nd
of the game on assists from Doug Battaglia and Pete Gardiner. At 16:50
RPI apparently broke the game wide open when Steve Caley stole the puck
at the Cornell blue line. RPI broke into the zone three on none. Caley
slid a pass across to Mark Murphy who fed Brad Tapper who put it in for
his first hat trick of his college career putting RPI up 5-1.
Less than a minute later, at 17:17, Cornell forward Ryan Moynihan grabbed
the puck in the corner,got it back to Kyle Knopp who fed fellow defenseman
Danny Powell. Powell blasted it from the point and beat Scott Prekaski.
From where I sat, Powell's shot hit a body in the slot, changed direction
and went in. Since Powell got credit for the goal, I presume it was an
Engineer body that it hit. The score was now 5-2. Enough for one period?
Hardly. At 18:56, RPI stole the puck inside the blue line and moved the
puck around the zone beautifully in what looked like a game of keep-away.
Eric Healey scored on assists from Alaine St. Hillaire and Matt Garver
and put the Engineers up 6-2. Enough already? Not quite. At the center
ice faceoff following the goal, RPI won the faceoff and iced the puck.
On the ensuing faceoff in the RPI defensive zone, Cornell freshman Andrew
McNiven, won the faceoff, drew it back to Dan Svoboda who took 2 steps to
his left to avoid the crowd and drilled a shot past Prekaski at 19:07
to finish out the second period, RPI 6 - Cornell 3.
saves Prekaski(RPI) 14 Elliott(Cornell) 8
Third period:
One could have predicted that the third period would have the Engineers
sit back in a defensive shell while Cornell would come out full force
and maybe take some chances to get back in the game. It didn't happen
that way. Both teams came out flying in the 3rd as if the score was tied
and the outcome was still in doubt (which it was). The pace was furious
through the 1st 10 minutes of the period with no-one able to penetrate.
Finally, at 14:06, with Mark Murphy in the box for RPI, Cornell made it
6-4 on a goal by Dan Svoboda with assists from Ryan Smart and Larry Pierce.
The goal came 1:30 into a power play which was played entirely in the RPI
defensive zone. The score remained 6-4 and at 18:30, Jason Elliott was
removed for an extra skater. The move paid off as Cornell closed the gap to
6-5 at 18:47 on a goal by Darren Tymchyshyn (whew, that's a whole lot of
consonants) and an assist by Doug Stienstra. My thoughts immediately went
back to the Cornell-Brown game several weeks ago and I held my breath for
the rest of the game. I finally could breathe a sigh of relief when, at
19:53, Alaine St. Hillaire won a faceoff just outside his blue line and
lofted the puck high in the air. It came to rest in the Cornell empty
net for an RPI 7-5 victory.
Saves Elliott(Cornell) 7 Prekaski(RPI) 10
Total saves Elliot 26 Prekaski 30
Although Cornell lost, they had no reason to be disappointed in their effort.
Their entire team played well, their intensity never flagged and they never
showed any signs of quitting. Meanwhile, the Engineers, who are going into
a 3 week break for finals had to be very happy with the win and more
importantly,
a superb team effort that should work to rebuild the team's confidence.
Both RPI and Cornell have been suffering from a scoring slump recently
and both broke out tonight. That is a positive for both teams.
RPI is now off for exams and takes to the ice next on 12/29-30 in the
RPI Invitiational Christmas tournament where they meet Army in the
1st round and either Yale or Lake Superior State the next evening.
Mark Lewin
RPI - class of 1969
(this signature is year2000 compliant)
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