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TROY, N.Y. - Junior C.J. Lee had a goal and an assist to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's hockey team to a 3-1 victory over American International College (AIC) in a non-league game at Houston Field House. With the victory, RPI improves to 4-16-1, while the Yellow Jackets fall to 3-15-2.

Following a scoreless first period, despite 14 shots on goal by the Engineers, RPI took the lead at 13:19 of the second period when freshman defenseman Curtis Leonard (Napanee, ON/Wellington Dukes) scored on a slap shot from the left point. Junior Marty O'Grady (London, ON/Wellington Dukes) won the faceoff cleanly back to Leonard, who notched his first career goal.

Lee (Staten Island, NY/Green Bay Gamblers), a forward, made it a 2-0 edge for the home team when he picked up a rebound of a Nick Bailen (Fredonia, NY/Indiana Ice) shot and slammed it across the goal line at 18:23 of the middle frame. Junior Greg Burgdoerfer (East Setauket, NY/Air Force Academy) earned the secondary assist by winning a battle for the puck in the left corner and sending a diagonal pass to the right point to Bailen. Bailen's shot was stopped but Lee was alone in front and scored his third of the season.

The second period ended with RPI leading 2-0 on the scoreboard and 31-6 in shots. Both teams were 0 for 3 on the power play to that point.

AIC pulled to within one at 17:03 of the third period with a goal with the teams skating four aside. Junior Adam Pleskach (Beausejour, MB/Selkirk Steelers) notched his seventh of the year, this one from just outside the goal crease. Blake Peake (Lethbridge, AB/Battlefords North Stars) and Nielsson Arcibal (Vista, CA/Des Moines Buccaneers) earned the assists.

The Yellow Jackets pulled their goalie soon thereafter, but RPI's Joel Malchuk (Brandon, MB/Dauphin Kings) sealed the win for the Engineers with an empty net goal at the 19:32 mark. Lee and Mark McGowan (Toronto, ON/Oakville Blades) got the assists.

Junior Bryce Merriam (Bethel Park, PA/Topeka RoadRunners) made 15 saves, including nine in the third period, for the win. Junior Ben Meisner (Halifax, NS/Winchendon School) stopped 34 shots on the other end.

RPI is back in action when it travels to Schenectady to face ECAC Hockey rival Union at 7pm. AIC plays host to Atlantic Hockey opponent Mercyhurst on Friday and Saturday. Both games begin at 7pm.