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TROY, N.Y. – Freshman Andrew Ammon scored two goals, including the eventual game-winner, to lead the Princeton University men's hockey team to a, 4-3, victory over Rensselaer, at the Houston Field House. With the win, the Tigers (16-10-2; 11-8-2 ECAC Hockey) move into fourth place in ECAC Hockey, while the Engineers (19-10-4; 11-9-1 ECACH) drop to sixth.

RPI can still finish as high as fourth in the league standings and earn a bye in the opening round of the playoffs with a win against Quinnipiac tomorrow night at the Houston Field House (7pm) and losses by both Princeton (7pm at Union) and Cornell (7pm at Yale). The Engineers can finish no lower than sixth, regardless of tomorrow's results.

Princeton freshman Andrew Calof (Nepean, ON) got the visitors on the board first, when he picked up an errant RPI pass in the neutral zone and deked past Engineers' junior netminder Allen York (Wetaskiwin, AB/Camrose Kodiaks) for a shorthanded break-away goal at 4:48 of the opening frame. The tally, which was Calof's seventh of the season, was unassisted.

Less than two minutes later, the Engineers knotted the game at 1-1, on a goal by freshman Brock Higgs (Kingston, ON/Kingston Voyageurs). Seconds after a Princeton penalty had expired, senior Chase Polacek (Edina, MN/Academy of Holy Angels) sent the puck towards goal that was redirected by junior Josh Rabbani (Woodland Hills, CA/St. Louis Bandits) to back post, where Higgs was waiting for the one-timer tally.

The Tigers had the answer, as senior Kevin Lohry (Sioux City, IA) buried a rebound chance in front of the RPI net at 8:19 of the first. Sophomore Eric Meland (Grand Forks, ND) won an offensive zone face-off back to the point, where junior defenseman Derrick Pallis (Medfield, MA) fired a shot on goal. York made the initial save, but Lohry was there to stick home the rebound for his 12th of the year.

Ammon (Aldie, VA) gave the visitors a 3-1 lead at 5:28 of the second period, when swatted in the rebound of a Pallis shot from the left wing.

Rensselaer freshman Matt Tinordi (Severna, MD/Olds Grizzlys) brought the hosts to within one (3-2), scoring his first collegiate goal on the power-play at 11:59 of the second. After a shot from the left point by senior Jeff Foss (Moorhead, MN/Moorhead) was tipped the side of the net, classmate Bryan Brutlag (Lakeville, MN/Academy of Holy Angels) kept the play alive for Tinordi, who beat Princeton freshman goaltender Sean Bonar (Delta, BC).

Ammon extended the Tigers' lead to 4-2 with a power-play goal of his own late in the second period (18:57). Picking a rebound out of a scrum at the side of the RPI cage, Ammon flipped the puck over York for his second of the game and 10th of the season.

The Engineers drew to within a goal (4-3) once again, as freshman Johnny Rogic (North Vancouver, BC/Alberni Valley Bulldogs) netted his fourth of the year, from sophomore Nick Bailen (Fredonia, NY/Indiana Ice) and senior Tyler Helfrich (Calgary, AB/Prince George Spruce Kings).

RPI pulled York for an extra attacker with over a minute and a half to play in regulation, but could not find the equalizing goal.

Bonar (7-4-1) made 27 saves to earn the win, while York (17-8-3) finished with 40 stops at the other end of the ice.