Box Score | Buy Merchandise

TROY, N.Y. – Junior Matt Neal and freshman Riley Bourbonnais both found the scoresheet as the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's hockey team defeated the United States Under-18 National Team, 2-1, this afternoon, in exhibition play. The contest was this year's Autism Awareness Game at the Houston Field House, in which there was minimal music and a lower public address volume.

Jared Fiegl (Parker, CO) gave the visitors a 1-0 lead at 1:06 of the opening frame, when he snapped home the rebound of a shot by Dylan Pavelek (Marysville, MI). Nolan Stevens (Manhattan Beach, CA) picked up the second assist.

Rensselaer drew even at 1:14 of the second period, when Neal (Minesing, ON/Stoufville Spirit) beat U.S. Under-18 goaltender Edwin Minney (Ojai, CA) five-hole, off a feed from classmate Ryan Haggerty (Stamford, CT/U.S. National Development Team). The tally, which came on the power-play, was also assisted by senior Bo Dolan (St. Paul, MN/Penticton Vees).

Bourbounnais (Rochester, NY/Lincoln Stars) gave the hosts a 2-1 lead at 7:37 of the second, flipping the puck past Minney for the Engineers' second man-advantage tally of the afternoon. Helpers went to senior Brock Higgs (Kingston, ON/Kingston Voyageurs) and Haggerty.

RPI freshman goaltender Jake Soffer (Potomac, MD/Boston Bandits) came up with 13 of his 21 saves in the third period to preserve the victory. Minney finished with 29 stops at the other end of the ice, including 18 in the second frame.

Rensselaer went 2 for 6 on the power-play, which included 15 of their 31 shots. The U.S. squad wound up 0 for 4.

The Engineers are off until January 4 and 5, when they take part in the Mariucci Classic in Minneapolis, Minn. RPI will take on fourth-ranked Ferris State on Friday (5pm) and either second-ranked Minnesota or Colgate on Saturday (TBD).