University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Rensselaer
Late RPI Comeback Drops Huskies, 6-5
11/26/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Nov. 26, 2010
Storrs, Conn. - RPI Holiday Tournament Headquarters
The UConn men's hockey team suffered a late game defeat at the hands of No. 17 RPI in the first game of the RPI Holiday Tournament tonight in Troy, N.Y. The Huskies fell, 6-5, and drop their overall record to 3-5-3 while RPI improves to 6-3-3. The Huskies were able to blast five goals past the RPI defense ranked No. 1 in the nation, allowing just 1.82 goals per game. Sophomore Sean Ambrosie (Williamsville, N.Y.) put home his fourth and fifth goals of the season while classmate Garrett Bartus (St. Charles, Ill.) stopped 35 shots on the night.
Playing its third ranked team on the road this season, UConn suffered its first loss of the year (0-1-2) to a ranked opponent.
Based on early third-period goals from Andrew Olson (Alexandria, Minn.) and Daniel Naurato (Northville, Mich.), UConn held a 4-2 edge with under 14 minutes remaining in the final stanza. RPI scored three goals in a 3:13 stretch to take the lead which UConn never regained. Billy Latta (West Chester, Pa.) evened the score (5-5) at 15:57 with his first-career goal but the Engineers would score the game winner just 36 seconds later with a goal from reigning ECAC Player of the Year Chase Polacek.
The Huskies jumped out to a 2-0 lead over the No. 17 Engineers with Ambrosie's pair. The first came at 12:16 of the opening period after assists from Miles Winter (Horsham, Pa.) and Alex Gerke (Tomah, Wisc.).
Ambrosie netted his second of the game with a power-play strike at 9:13 of the second period. Once again, Gerke and Winter set up the goal. With two assists, Gerke now has three on the season while Winter upped his team-high to eight helpers.
RPI evened the score with two goals before the second period expired. Ryan Angers-Goulet scored at 10:08 before Bryan Brutlag evened the score at 15:53.
After two periods, with the score tied, 2-2, RPI held a 27-23 edge in shots.
Connecticut opened the third with goals from Olson and Naurato before the Engineers stormed back in the second half of the period.
For the game, UConn was outshot, 41-35. The UConn penalty kill held RPI to 1-6 on the night, while the power play tallied one goal on three chances.
The Huskies will face Alabama-Huntsville, 5-1 losers to Bowling Green State in the opening game of the RPI Holiday Tournament, at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday in Houston Field House.
