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TROY, N.Y. – Sophomore Brock Higgs and freshman Ryan Haggerty each notched a pair of assists as the 18th-ranked Rensselaer men's hockey team defeated Minnesota State, 4-1, in non-league action at the Houston Field House. With the win the Engineers improve to 1-1-0 overall, while the Mavericks drop to 1-1-0.

Junior Nick Bailey (Fredonia, NY/Indiana Ice) broke a 1-1 tie at the 8:59 mark of the second period on a drive from the top of the left circle. The go-ahead goal was created by Higgs (Kingston, ON/Kingston Voyageurs) and Haggerty (Stamford, CT/U.S. National Dev. Team), who each earned their second assists of the game.

Rensselaer graduate student Joel Malchuk (Brandon, MB/Dauphin Kings) made it 3-1 with just 24 seconds to go in the second, when he scooped up an errant Mavericks' clearing attempt and flipped it into the net from the right wing boards. The unassisted tally was Malchuk's first of the year.

The hosts opened their lead to 4-1 at 7:29 of the third period on a blast from the right point by sophomore Pat Koudys (Smithville, ON/Burlington Cougars). The power-play tally was assisted by senior Josh Rabbani (Woodland Hills, CA/St. Louis Bandits) and freshman Zach Schroeder (Prior Lake, MN/Saint Thomas Academy).

Minnesota State sophomore Johnny McInnis (Boston, MA/Okotoks) redirected home the game's first goal at 12:00 of the first period, tipping in a shot from the right point by junior Evan Mosey (Downers Grove, IL/Wenatchee).

Sophomore Chase Grant (Oklahoma City, OK/Fargo) had a chance to push the Mavericks lead to 2-0, but he one-timer shot was pushed wide right of RPI junior netminder Bryce Merriam (Bethel Park, MD/Topeka RoadRunners) from point blank range.

The Engineers tied the game at 19:22 of the first, when sophomore Guy Leboeuf (West Palm Beach, FL/Cornwall Colts) fired a quick shot from the left circle that beat Minnesota State junior goaltender Phil Cook (Wheaton, IL/Fairbanks), five-hole. Haggerty set the up goal with a pass from behind the Mavericks' cage. A second assist was credited to Higgs.

Merriam (1-0) earn the win in his first start of the season, making 31 saves. Cook (0-1) finished with 34 stops at the other end of the ice, including 13 in each of the second and third periods. RPI went 2 for 6 on the power-play, while the Mavericks were 0 for 5.

The Engineers return to action next weekend, when they visit Ferris State for a two-game series, beginning on Friday (7:05pm). Minnesota State returns home to take to on UMass-Lowell for a two-game set on Friday (8:37pm) and Saturday (8:07pm).